Inspired by the legacy of Uhengaparaoa, a renowned Whakatōhea weaver who traveled to the East Coast of Aotearoa New Zealand to share her weaving knowledge, Uhengaparaoa, Taonga Tuku Iho brings ancient and modern Māori art into dialogue.
At the heart of the exhibition is a treasured kaitaka (cloak) from the Fowler Museum collection, regarded as an ancestor by the Whakatōhea community. In response to it, contemporary Whakatōhea artists have created works that honor, reinterpret, and extend the ancestral traditions. Through their finely woven kete and kākahu as well as contemporary works incorporating recycled materials, feathers, and new forms, these artists demonstrate how mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) remains vital and evolving.
Together, the works celebrate Whakatōhea identity, connection to whenua (land) and whakapapa (genealogy), and cultural resilience in the face of colonial suppression. Uhengaparaoa, Taonga Tuku Iho is a testament to weaving—and art more broadly—as a living practice through which generational practices and skills are remembered, renewed, and carried into the future.
Opening Celebration:
Saturday, October 10, 2 - 4:30pm
Exhibition Walk-Through:
Sunday, October 11, 1 - 2pm
Fee:
FREE
Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday, 12 - 5pm