Profiles of contemporary Māori artists.
Profiles of traditional Māori artists.
Contemporary
Manos Nathan - Ngāti Whatua, Ngā Puhi
Manos Nathan was born in 1948 in Dargaville, Northland. He has been involved with the development of the Māori ceramic movement in Aotearoa since the mid 1980's. Nathan studied the basic skills of ceramic building and firing with Robyn Stewart.
Manos Nathan is also a master carver having carved the house at Matatina Marae. He has undertaken a number of major commissions over the years, including the designs and motifs which adorn the Auckland City Libraries.
"His works draw on a rich heritage of customary art forms and on the allegory and metaphor of the Māori cosmological and creation narratives."
Ralph Hotere- Te Aupouri
One of eleven children, Hone Papita Raukura (Ralph) Hotere was born in Mitimiti, Northland, in 1931. He was educated at Hato Petera College and Auckland Teachers' College, before moving to Dunedin in 1952 to specialise in art. In 1961 Ralph accepted an art scholarship to study in England, then returned to Aotearoa in 1965.
Described as New Zealand’s most important living artist. His extraordinarily innovative work and independence of thought have won him the continuing respect of both his peers and a younger generation of artists.
Ralph is a silent man, yet generous. He would have given away more paintings than put up for sale.
Ralph Hotere has collaborated with poet Hone Tuwhare.
Tracey Tawhiao - Ngaiterangi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa
Tracey Tawhiao was born in Murupara in 1967. She is an accomplished performance artist, writer and filmmaker who co-runs a music company called Heart Music. She creates oil paintings on canvas and acrylic paintings on newspaper, which she describes as her version of the news.
Her recent paintings have endured much debate, but Tracey does not like to make distinctions or compartmentalise different forms of expression - "to me they're just an expression of something in one form or another.” Her style of expression is reminiscent of her elders, holding strong messages of political and social injustice as well as love for whanau.
Michael Parekowhai - Ngā Ariki, Ngāti Whakarongo
Contemporary Sculptor (born 1968)
"Michael Parekowhai is emerging as one of the most important New Zealand artists of his generation. The director of the Andy Warhol Museum thinks he's one of the finer artists working internationally and prices for his work are climbing" – Metro magazine, March 2004.
Parekowhai is one of a small group of mid-career artists who explore the convergence between Maori and European cultures. His storybook rabbit characters continued his fascination with the imported aspects of New Zealand culture.
Some of his famous pieces include Roebuck Jones and the Cuniculus Kid, Ten Guitars, Pick-up sticks, Jeff Cooper and Gamma Velorum.
Sandy Adsett - Ngāti Kahungunu
Painter, born 1939 in Wairoa.
Sandy attended Raupunga Native School and Te Aute Maori Boys’ College.
Sandy was part of the Maori art movement bringing Maori art into schools.
He was one of the three principal tutors at the well known Maori visual arts degree in Gisborne, 'Toihoukura'. A member of Toi Maori.
"Some of my thoughts may be personal to me. I don't want people to assume that this is the way our contemporary artists all think. As long as what I am saying doesn't sound like "I this and I that" - I hate that!". - Sandy Adsett interview
Sandy Adsett has exhibited throughout the USA, and in Australia, Canada and of course Aotearoa.
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Traditional
Rangimarie Hetet - Ngāti Maniapoto
Dame Rangimarie Hetet was born in Te Kuiti in 1892. Dame Rangimarie is an expert weaver and passed on her weaving skills to many women in New Zealand; notably her daughter, Diggeress Te Kanawa, also a well-known weaver.
For Dame Rangimarie, weaving was a daily activity; harvesting harakeke, collecting mud and feathers, preparing fibres and dyes and weaving intricate mats and cloaks. Dame Rangimarie learnt the art of weaving from her elders and has in turn passed it on to her children and mokopuna.
Dame Rangimarie is a role model for all aspiring weavers; she is well respected in New Zealand as an artist, an elder and is truly a national treasure.
Suggested reading: Rangimarie: recollections of her life by Rora Paki-Titi
Apirana Ngata - Ngāti Porou
Sir Apirana Ngata created a new path of reconciliation between Māori and Pakeha and helped build an enduring Māori recovery. He is one of the most important and illustrious New Zealanders of the 20th Century. He was the first Māori to obtain a university degree, and was a member of Parliament from 1905-1943.
Sir Apirana Ngata wrote many waiata and haka. He has been referred to as the father of the action song. Early in his career he translated many popular European songs into Māori. Sir Apirana was at the forefront of reviving Māori arts and craft, which focussed on the carvings of the marae. He formed the school of Māori Arts in Rotorua in 1927.
Suggested reading: Ta Apirana: ngā taonga tuku: photographs from the Museum of New Zealand
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