Contemporary Maori art

TOI TU TOI ORA : Contemporary Maori Art edited by Nigel Borell, Penguin Random House, $65 .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. Books which command attention for their presentation have always managed to grab my interest, and Toi Tu Toi Ora did that in spades.

But this is more than an outstanding coffee table-sized and weighty tome. The content is also of the highest quality.

Editor Nigel Borell has captured contemporary Maori art from the 1950's to the present day.

The dynamic book delivers 200 art works from 110 Maori artists, with the story and the art based on the exhibition Toi o Tamaki, which attracted huge interest at Auckland Art Gallery during 2020 – 21, curated by Borell.

Toi Tu Toi Ora represents the 110 artists who have drawn from centuries of influence as they developed their craft, bringing us 200 stunning and unique contemporary Maori art items.

Rest assured there's no way you'll be able to skim through the 375 plus pages.

And you should also come away from the immersion with relevant questions well answered by a detailed glossary and a hugely impressive group of contributors brought together by Borell.

Aotearoa New Zealand has been rich in art captured across the centuries and this is the one place where it has been brought together and so much a labour of love by the editor and the Penguin publishers. Enjoy.