This 7 story mural was painted in Rotorua for the amazing @aronuiartsfestival
Inspired by Wahine Toa Mākereti Papakura, Te Arawa, Tūhourangi iwi. (1873-1930).
Based on Mākereti’s story, her different adornments & clothing represent the two worlds she was part of. Her life & roots here in Aotearoa & her life abroad in England.
Her hair flows free on one side with her huia feather woven in & a ribbon on the other side, to represent the red headscarf she wore when she was a famous tourist guide at Whakarewarewa thermal valley in Rotorua.
She wears her Korowai & tiki Te Uoro as well as her 1900’s style dress, the skirt transforms into her piupiu. Her torso is a Taniwha to follow her gut instincts & her neck becomes Taniwha, speaking fluently & fiercely in both languages.
She wears one boot, a hybrid taniwha/1900’s style boot to represent the merging of two worlds, the other barefoot shows she is grounded in knowing exactly who she is & her whakapapa. She kneels on the wave as she travelled back and forth across the ocean.
Holding a physical scroll representing her writing achievements in her Taniwha hand, she strongly & unapologetically claims her contribution to literature & representing Māoritanga.
She is poised, holding her Taiaha, ready to stand up for who she is, her people, culture & what she believes in no matter how hard the journey.
What an honour to collaborate with Mākereti’s descendant, June Grant. Ngā mihi @juneairinigrant for your guidance, trust & your creative input to add the design detail for the piupiu.
Massive mihi to Cian, Frances, Bobby and the whole @aronuiartsfestival crew for everything and to @elliotodonnell79 with @bareps for helping with project management.
Ngā mihi to @creativenz for the funding to make this happen!
And to the @sulphur_city_soapery & @totalaccess for safe access
Photos captured by @aio.media.nz
Mural painted for Bats Theatre as part of Kia Mau festival in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa.
The figure represents the creative story writer and performer, her face glows with gold with authentic expression. The two faces in profile (Wahine and Taniwha) represent characters through which the story can be told and also the telling of stories passed down through generations. The Performer whispers her creative ideas and they flow through the Wahine and Taniwha and they ignite into a warming flame.
She holds a feather to represent the embellishment of costume/decoration/adornment. The white feather also presents a sense of inner peace through self expression and being able to express oneself in a safe space.
The Taniwha torso represents core strength, trusting intuitions and letting them guide you. The throat Taniwha is the power of voice and speaking up/out. The boot taniwha represents walking fiercely into the future.
The design on the leg is pūhoro and represents moving forward, speed and swiftness. The designs on the arm and on the Taniwha are raperape & pitau. They represent growth & continuity into an evolving future.
Ngā mihi
Digital artwork for the NZSO 2023 programme
Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa 2023 programme embraces fantasy, escapism, exploration & transformation.
This artwork represents a vehicle made of collaborative parts working together to move through worlds.
Project management by Adan Tijerina
Booklet design by Spence Levine
Mural installation in the main atrium of Tauranga Art Gallery
This installation speaks to the urgent need for change in our world, that systemic toxicity burns & melts as quickly as the fires of climate change while the floods of ancestral bloodlines rise up to bring awareness to the way forward.
We hope our fearless & boujie Kaitiaki will inspire people to ride the powerful Taniwha of change, to shine a light on the lessons of the past & bring them into the future, with Mahuika's nails lighting the way through even the darkest times.
Curated by Serena Bentley
Supported by Jamie Coxon and his team in the workshop
Huge thanks for the Tauranga Art Gallery crew.
Mural painting on custom wood canvas.
This Exquisite Kaitiaki collaborative painting is inspired by collaboration itself, by creating something unified by many different parts and by the strong, protective & feminine nature of the Wāhine of the world.
A group exhibition involving 9 female street artists from around the globe.
Curated by Mirella Moschella
Huge thanks to Mire and the Mango Collective crew
South Sea Spray Mural Festival, Waihōpai, NZ
She is an Exquisite Kaitiaki inspired by our adventure going south, gut feelings & womb magic, revealed within the wall are little treats & secret details to find if you visit in the flesh.
Huge thanks to Deow, Lauren, Pauline and Mandy and the wider SSS crew for having us.
Photos by Mirella Moschella
A mural located in Porirua, Wellington, NZ
Representing the two tides of PARI-RUA
The two tides are situated on each end of the design.
The Taniwha represents one tide, Típuna, history an sea. The other side is in human form to represent the people, whenua and future.
The middle is the wairua of the two tides coming together with the sun and moon watching over each day and night.
This mural marks the entrance way to the town centre of Poriua to welcome when arriving and farewell when leaving.
Project managed by Cathy Roa, Richard Whiteford-Smith, Dave Stella and Kawika Aipa
Thanks to Porirua City Council, Pelorous Trust
Our first collaboration
Exquisite Kaitiaki at 257 Space. A collective working space on Willis St, Te Whanganui-a-tara.
A freestyle mural based on the game Exquisite Corpse, where each person creates a third of the figure to build a new being.
The Kaitiaki figures hold up the ceiling and guard the entrance.
Many thanks to Ash Holwel for bringing us together for this project
Artwork for the ‘He Ōrite’ single release with The Nudge and Troy Kingi.
Based on the kaupapa of this waiata these beings exist on the earth realm and beyond. The face as the personification of the cosmos & the milkyway, the Mangopare pattern brings courage, determination & power, encircling the eye of truth, the wahine channeling the inner taniwha for strength & symbolising Tīpuna. All the elements are connected & working together as a united force against injustice & greed for the generations that follow us.
Including a different colour variation for the Tiki Taane Remix
Ngā Taniwha main stage artwork for Cuba Dupa Festival
This piece acknowledges manawhenua, & the two Kaitiaki of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Taniwha Ngake & Whataitai.
The hands bringing everyone together to share the Cuba Dupa experience.
Hand painted ply cut structure for CubaDupa 2021
Printed Banners variation for Cuba Dupa 2023
Digital illustration pattern for animated stage backdrop by Gina Kiel
Big mihi to Gerry, Nic & the Cuba Dupa crew.
📸 @ginakiel_ @lovewelly @wellingtonnz @indiginz
A fun pattern based mural as an abstract representation of elements in nature working in unison.
Located in Porirua City Center
Big mihi to Porirua City Council, Pelorous Trust, Cathy Roa, Richard Witheford-Smith, Dave Stella, @littlegoat @mahicafe @aipatouch and the Porirua City Community
Photos by @libbywithefords
Open night for our exhibition ‘Exquisite Kaitiaki’ at Hunters & Collectors.
Big mihi to everyone who filled the gallery!! An awesome turnout and sold out show.
Huge shout out to @huntersandcollectors1987 @paniaofthekeef @canapecompany @fortunefavoursnz @scapegrace @picaflor_fineartprint
These decals were designed to brighten up selected construction hoarding sites & empty shop windows with details we love about Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Big mihi to Charlotte Wooster & the team from WellingtonNZ for commissioning this project and for arranging donations to @treesthatcount to help offset the printing footprint
Photos by Johnny Hendrikus for Stuff & Dom Post articles #DGC
Te Whetū/The Star
Our first Exquisite Kaitiaki mural made in Porirua/Pari-Rua
Her hair grows every colour because she is the embodiment of every person and every culture. She holds a hue, a melting pot of good vibes that spill and flow through the city nourishing everyone she meets. The city is her garden that she tends to and nurtures day & night, watching with love as it grows.
This mural ‘Te Whetū/The Star’ was named after we finished the whole project and recognized the coincidental likeness of The Star tarot card and it's similarities visually and also in meanings.
This project could not have happened without the permission & support from Porirua City Council, Pelorous Trust, Cathy Roa, Richard Witheford-Smith, Dave Stella, @littlegoat @mahicafe @aipatouch and the Porirua City Community in all it's glory.
Photos by @libbywithefords
Ngā mihi nui PARI-RUA!
