Collective of Ma¯ ori artists claim award
Wa¯ hine wow judges at festival in Venice
Acollective of wa¯hine Ma¯ori artists has won a major award at the world’s premier international art festival, the Venice Biennale in Italy. “We have dedicated our careers to collectivity and we are so grateful,” the wa¯hine wrote on social media.
Mataaho Collective received the highest prize, the Golden Lion, for the Best Participant in the International Exhibition, Stranieri Ovunque — Foreigners Everywhere, at the festival considered “the Olympics of the art world”.
The Mataaho Collective wa¯hine, who prefer to be known as a collective rather than individual artists, are Erena Baker (Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, Nga¯ ti Toa Ranga¯ tira), Sarah Hudson (Nga¯ti Awa, Nga¯i Tu¯hoe), Bridget Reweti (Nga¯ti Ranginui, Nga¯i Te Rangi) and Terri Te Tau (Rangita¯ne ki Wairarapa).
The jury presenting them with the award referred to their work as “luminous”, “poetic” and “dazzling”, among other descriptions.
“The Ma¯ ori Mataaho Collective has created a luminous woven structure of straps that poetically crisscross the gallery space. Referring to matrilinear traditions of textiles with its womblike cradle, the installation is both a cosmology and a shelter.
“Its impressive scale is a feat of engineering that was only made possibly by the collective strength and creativity of the group. The dazzling pattern of shadows cast on the walls and floor harks back to ancestral techniques and gestures to future uses of such techniques.”
Sharing the news of their award, Mataaho Collective offered a mihi to their wha¯nau, those who have inspired them and Ma¯ori and indigenous artists of the future.
“We have dedicated our careers to collectivity and we are so grateful. It doesn’t just feel like our award, but recognition of our supportive families, our visionary colleagues, our generous mentors and the indigenous artists of the future.”
Unveiling their work last week, they wrote: “We’re proud to be Ma¯ori, at home and on the world stage”.
Eight Ma¯ ori artists are representing Aotearoa at the prestigious art festival. As well as Mataaho Collective, they include Sandy Adsett (Nga¯ti Pahauwera), Brett Graham (Nga¯ ti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui), Fred Graham (Nga¯ti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui) and Selwyn Te Ngareatua Wilson (Nga¯ti Manu, Nga¯ti Hine).