Student art on show at Akina Gallery
Public’s chance to view 30 works by talented rangatahi with six artists exhibiting at Te Papa
Six William Colenso College students who have had their art at Te Papa will now be exhibited at Akina Gallery. “Some of the 30 artworks have already been on display at Te Papa in Wellington and this is a chance for whanau, friends and the public here to be wowed by our talented rangatahi,” exhibition coordinator Laura Jackson says.
Contributing schools include William Colenso College, Napier Boys’, Tamatea, Hukarere, Karamu and Hastings Girls’.
Tamatea High’s Chas Nahora says her painted pou is based on a theme of growth and is designed to sit in the ngahere (forest) that has been planted on the school grounds.
“It was inspired by the young trees in the ngahere and how they will grow and welcome future generations of students.
Chas (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Waitaha) says the pou incorporates contemporary koru patterns and a pattern similar to the mangopare/hammerhead shark which represents courage.
She will also have several photographs in the exhibition.
Six of the exhibiting teenage artists had their work on display at Te Papa in Wellington in the national secondary schools’ Ma¯ori art exhibition, Ringa Toi, in October.
The six, all students at Napier’s William Colenso College, scooped three commended and highly commended awards.
Just 14 such accolades were given out to the 88 artworks selected from throughout New Zealand.
Jess Merwood (Ngati Kahungunu) says her digital artwork Papatuanuku was created to “express the beauty of Aotearoa and the strength femininity holds within our society”.
“The image contains my interpretation of Papatuanuku’s appearance and how I imagine she would exhibit herself. I’ve tried to incorporate different aspects of our planet within her features, such as her hair as the ocean, her skin as our land, her pounamu representing the connection to love and prosperity and her attire a traditional Ma¯ori cloak to represent our culture.”
The public is welcome to attend the opening of the show at Akina
Gallery, on Monday, December 5, at 5pm.
Nga¯ Ringa Toi o TeMatau a Ma¯ui, Akina Gallery, Toitoi Municipal Building, Heretaunga Street East, Hastings, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm.