Whetūrangitia is our exhibition series in celebration of Matariki, honouring those who have passed and our rangatahi who guide us into the upcoming year. This year marks our second exhibition programme dedicated to supporting our local youth, presenting Pou Kapua Creations Trust, Waitākere College and group show led by Florence Ulutunu.
Opening Preview: Friday 19 June, 6-8pm
Exhibition Running: 20 June - 8 August
Pou Kapua Creations
As a Teina to Tuakana relationship, Pou Kapua Creations showcases the potential stepping-stone within the Whetūrangitia exhibition for our young makers to see the importance of whakapapa and matauranga through the lens of carving.
Pou Kapua Creations led by tōhunga whakairo, master carver and artist Wikuki Kingi (Ngāi Tai, Ngāti Mahuta, Waikato, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu) has been a part of the Corban Estate Arts Centre community for almost 10 years. Their studio onsite has facilitated workshops for our local West Auckland community and opportunities for apprentices to gain knowledge in carving. Furthermore, contributing to ongoing kaupapa that has shaped our cultural landscape in Aotearoa including Pou Kapua in Manukau, Tāmaki Makaurau, across Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and beyond.
Waitākere College
This exhibition presents four Māori wāhine artists from Waitākere College:
- Amber Cullen
- Kayceigh Green
- Mya Lautaimi Henry
- Lhani-Aroha Maagdenberg.
They bring together visual art practices including photography, painting, sculpture and illustration to explore ideas connected to whānau, memory and whakapapa.
Through personal narratives, symbolism and contemporary image-making processes, the artists reflect on identity, connection, place and intergenerational relationships. Their works draw from lived experiences and cultural knowledge to communicate stories that honour the past while speaking to the present.
Group Show led by Florence Ulutunu
Featuring:
- Bella Rei Frost
- Edward Mafi
- Edgar Manuhaapai
- Maddison Meredith
- Mireya Moore
- Keenai Sula
- Brandy Veatupu.
Our first Whetūrangitia workshop series invited Sāmoan art installation artist and siapo maker Florence Ulutunu to guide local senior secondary school students through a three-day workshop, introducing traditional beating methods to create siapo, bark cloth.
Bringing together students from Liston College, St Dominic’s College and Waitākere College, this workshop offered them the opportunity to explore culture, identity and belonging through siapo. This allowed them to build their own individual practice while creating collaboratively, contributing to a collective knowledge.
This workshop and exhibition was made possible with funding from Creative Communities NZ.