Several sculptural works by indigenous artists were presented in the gallery.
Atareta Rerekohu Black Ngā Aua Rere Kaharunga: a woven sculpture by Black who weaves traditional Māori knowledge, genealogy, and traditional stories to convey relationships to the sea, land, and environment
Nââwié Tutugoro Not Quite a Church/Inciting Public Gathering: a tarpaulin-based work that references the raid on Camp Kororā, the activist’s camp on Waiheke Island in 2021.
Tutugoro discusses these works in her review of the exhibition in The Art Paper, and positions Blue Radius in relation to an indigenous perspective of sea level rise.
Atareta Rerekohu Black Ngā Aua Rere Kaharunga
Atareta Rerekohu Black
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tā Imi Moriori
E kau ki ngā tai a Tangaroa, tēnei ka rono ki te ngunguru o te tai e papaki kau nei i te ngutu awa o Te Wairoa Tāpokorau, puta atu nei ki tua o Te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa, ki Hawaiki-nui, Hawaiki-roa, Hawaiki-pāmamao. Ka hura mai he uri taniwha o te awa o Te Wairoa-hōpūpū-hōnengenenge-mātangirau, ki uta e.
From a whānau of weavers and fishermen, Atareta’s practice draws on Mātauranga Māori and Taonga tuku iho to create works that are influenced by her whakapapa and the creative practices of her tīpuna. In 2020, under the guidance of her kuia and mentor Dante Bonica, Atareta started exploring traditional Māori fishing nets as an art form, with a specific focus on the construction techniques of kupenga made from harakeke
Nââwié Tutugoro
Nââwié (Na-we-ah) Tutugoro is a 29 year old artist based on Waiheke Island. Growing up in Grey Lynn, she was surrounded by a sense of community, with an acute awareness that the projects we make can begin to change the world. Born to a Kanak Father and Anglo-Argentinian mother, Nââwié’s parents are both activists; political and environmental. Her mother was a founding member of the Rainbow Warrior, working with Nuclear-free Pacific and anti-whaling expeditions; and has more recently joined the Action Station panel. Her father has been a diplomat, fighting for independence in the Pacific. Both parents are Nââwié’s biggest inspirations. As a family, they have always held strong solidarity with indigenous rights, informing her participation in the Protect Pūtiki protests.
