Whāia Te Taniwha, A New Exhibition At Christchurch Art Gallery, Explores The Enduring Presence Of Taniwha In Aotearoa
Opening 20 September, this exhibition of work by Māori artists offers a window into the rich narratives of taniwha that tāngata whenua have held for generations.
Co-curator Chloe Cull says that while many people in Aotearoa are familiar with the idea of taniwha, post-colonial, Western representations of taniwha have often been one-dimensional or inaccurate.
'This exhibition celebrates the diversity of taniwha. They are shapeshifters, oceanic guides, leaders, adversaries, guardians and tricksters who have left their marks on the Aotearoa landscape.
' Whāia te Taniwha also responds to the impact of colonisation on Māori knowledge systems by celebrating the deep and varied presence of taniwha within te ao Māori,' says Cull.
The exhibition includes new major commissions from renowned Aotearoa artists such as Lisa Reihana and Maungarongo Te Kawa.
Ngāi Tahu artists will also be well represented in the exhibition, with new work being developed by Jennifer Rendall, Fran Spencer, Kommi Tamati-Elliffe, Turumeke Harrington, Piri Cowie and Madison Kelly.
These new works will be shown alongside existing works on loan to the Gallery.
'With the bulk of the exhibition comprising new commissions and loans, it'll be the first opportunity to see many of these works in Christchurch,' says Cull.
The exhibition was inspired by Taniwha: A cultural history – a Marsden Fund supported research project by exhibition co-curators Dr Kirsty Dunn and Dr Madi Williams.
Dunn explains that the inability to categorise or define taniwha are part of their enduring power. 'Many of the artists consider how ancestral knowledge within taniwha narratives provide potential pathways through contemporary challenges; these pathways are powerful, sometimes playful, sometimes confronting, and sometimes they reveal themselves in unexpected ways. Audiences might have some of their expectations challenged in this exhibition.'
For those who enjoy interactive experiences, there will be a few things on offer – including an augmented reality sculpture and a video game that invites players to search for items that can uplift the wellbeing of a taniwha.
Williams adds, 'Just as taniwha take many shapes and forms, the exhibition includes a multitude of disciplines – from painting and sculpture to textiles, video poetry and photography.
'Visitors will be invited to consider who, rather than what, taniwha are – and how taniwha stories can help us understand and navigate the world around us.'
Whāia te Taniwha opens Saturday 20 September 2025 and closes on 15 February 2026.
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