Latest news with #DunedinPublicArtGallery
Otago Daily Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Rediscovering tīpuna
Raising the profile of 19th century Māori leader H.K. Taiaroa's life and work is the aim of a new exhibition at Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Rebecca Fox discovers the different ways the man and his work are being brought to life today. Standing in the same whenua in which his tipuna H.K. Taiaroa stood more than 120 years ago has helped dancer, choreographer and artist Taiaroa Royal become more grounded in his southern whakapapa. "It was very moving." Royal was born and grew up in the North Island, on a family farm near Rotorua where he lives today. While named Taiaroa, he only knew he received that name as it was his father's name, his grandmother's surname and it came from the South Island. He had no idea he was a direct descendent of H.K. Taiaroa, the 19th century southern Māori politician and leader, and only began to connect with members of his southern whānau as an adult when he came to Dunedin on tours with different shows. So when the opportunity arose to take part in an exhibition honouring the life of H.K. Taiaroa, who was born at Ōtākou, on Otago peninsula, probably in the 1830s or early 1840s, he grabbed it and took the opportunity to fill in the gaps of his whakapapa. "So, it's a huge honour and a huge privilege to be able to create this work." Learning about Hōri Kerei Taiaroa, known as H.K., and his wife Tini Kerei Taiaroa, Royal discovered a man considered to be a "huge force", not only by his whānau but also by the wider Otago community, especially in the field of politics. H.K. Taiaroa represented southern Māori in the House of Representatives (1871-78, 1881-85) and a member of the Legistlative Council (1879-80, 1885-1905), speaking in Parliament on a wide range of issues facing Māori, but one of his main goals was to get Kāi Tahu claims heard by government. Having written down much of his thoughts over his lifetime, there is a rich resource about the man and his work, which has been gradually translated and used over the years to support Kāi Tahu claims, art, research and language revitalisation. As Royal, who has received national awards for his dance works and contribution to New Zealand contemporary dance, knew much of this aspect of his life was therefore covered, his interest was in H.K. Taiaroa as a man, as a father and a husband. His writings showed him to be a loving father, very invested in his whānau and community. "Having the opportunity to create this presentation, this artwork around H.K. Taiaroa has drawn me closer to that side of my family, which I'm really, really grateful for. And it has really strengthened the bonds I now have with that side of my family." Royal describes the man he has learnt about as a gentle man, despite his reputation as a fierce, staunch politician who stood up for his people. "He was a huge, tall man but a gentle giant. I feel that that trait has been passed down because my father was the same, although he wasn't a big man, but he was a very gentle man. And everyone says that I'm the same as well. And even [his niece's son] Karlos-Taiaroa. So there seems to be that kind of energy or trait or gene that has been passed down." He also believes the legacy of H.K. Taiaroa's work continues today. "He was forging ahead back in the 1870s to 1905 and a lot of his work and groundwork back then has helped shape a lot of the political environment, in particular with Māori land claims and stuff like that today. So, you know, it's quite special." Reading some of H.K. Taiaroa's personal writings, a passage stood out: H.K. Taiaroa described standing on the Kaitōrete spit, on the southern shores of Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora) in Canterbury, looking at the beach with the tide coming in and going out, contemplating his name, which means long, long tide. "I was really drawn to that. So, that was where I was going to approach my presentation, my piece of artwork for this exhibition." As it is not possible for Royal to perform live for the entire exhibition, he has created a 20-minute looped-video that will be projected on the walls of the gallery. It includes an eight-minute performance element. In the video he plays H.K. Taiaroa and is filmed standing on that spot on the Kaitōrete spit speaking the words of his tipuna. It was vital to Royal that the area of Taumutu (near Lake Ellesmere) where H.K. Taiaroa and his wife lived was filmed and used in the piece. "That was really quite special as well, to kind of feel his wairua. It's interesting how audiovisual or film or video can evoke those layers quite quickly and being able to embody his wairua within the footage and then to play myself on the footage communicating to H.K. through this medium is quite special. "And knowing that we're leading up to this exhibition and so his presence is getting more and more stronger, I think. And I feel that he is with me and with us." It was important to Royal that the mana of H.K. Taiaroa was honoured, a challenge in such a short piece. To help create the mood, much of the video is done in slow motion. "So, it gives you that sense of being back in time, being almost frozen in a snippet ... I'm hoping the viewer will be transported to that time where he's standing on the beach contemplating those thoughts." The significance of the project has grown with the inclusion of family members, including the next generation. Royal's niece's son is named Karlos-Taiaroa Pewhairangi-Charlie. "His voice is also in the video. So four, five generations of artists working on this." Mātanga mātauranga Māori, cultural adviser for the work, Tūī Matira Ranapiri-Ransfield is also descended from H.K. Taiaroa. The audiovisual and soundscape have been created by Kāi Tahu artists, choreographer Louise Pōtiki Bryant and her musician husband Paddy Free along with Royal's niece Kēri Pewhairangi, who created a tune for a waiata for the piece, and her business partner Ty Gage, who are taonga puoro players. "So, it began to be kind of like an extended whānau creation." Everything he has learned on the journey has opened up so many other avenues for him as an artist. "Being a creator of Māori contemporary dance and telling stories, it's just opened up so many other stories to tell through Māori contemporary dance for me." Royal's work is one aspect of the exhibition "H.K. Taiaroa: 'Kua marara hoki ngā mana o tōna kaha ki runga i te katoa" created by the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in collaboration with Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou and the Riki Te Mairaki Ellison Taiaroa Whānau Trust. Working with these parties were curators Piupiu Maya Turei and Mya Morrison-Middleton. "The exhibition is a platform to bring H.K and the wider whenua histories more forward into the public consciousness," Morrison-Middleton says. "It's a great way to learn about history and experience history as well." Three and a-half years in the making, the exhibition also includes new work by contemporary Māori artist Ephraim Russell, who does a lot of work in public spaces, and existing work by Ralph Hotere, Gottfried Lindauer, and Fiona Pardington, blended with taoka such as kete woven by Tini Kerei Taiaroa. "I'm quite excited to see their work installed in the gallery, because it's going to be beautiful and immersive. And they both do a really good job of responding to the kaupapa and uplifting in gorgeous ways," Turei says. As part of raising awareness of H.K. Taiaroa, a panel discussion will be held, involving Ōtākou Rūnaka upoko Edward Ellison, Megan Potiki (Kāi Tahu), Prof Tony Ballantyne, Prof Angela Wanhalla, and Ella McDonald, who is a direct descendant of H.K. Taiaroa, on the question "Where were my tīpuna in this city?". "I think there's a real desire to see long-standing mana whenua histories, come to visibility within the city. You can see that through these public art works that have been installed and a lot of the narratives that are being worked into the city centre," Morrison-Middleton says. Another part of the exhibition are rubbing stations, created with the help of artists Aroha Novak and Madison Kelly, where children can take rubbings of different kai moana that would have been around Otago Harbour in H.K. Taiaroa's time — as he did a lot of work in the late 1870s and 1880s collecting knowledge from kaumātua around Te Waipounamu about what kai they were collecting and where. Like Royal, Morrison-Middleton and Turei have come away from their work with a clearer picture of H.K. Taiaroa of a man with great integrity and kindness and a hope that it encourages people to dig deeper into the region's history. "I hope that people will get a window into this man's life and through this family, into a time in Ōtepoti and in New Zealand's history, and ultimately come away with an understanding of something — maybe they had no idea who H.K. Taiaroa was before," Turei says. To see H.K. Taiaroa, August 4 — November 23. Opening events, August 3, 10.30am: Panel discussion on the question 'Where were my tīpuna in this city?'; 11.30am: Waiata and haka performance by rakatahi rōpū He Waka Kōtuia; 1pm: HURIWHENUA performance by Taiaroa Royal.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
New era as official portrait of Aaron Hawkins unveiled
The official photographic portrait of former Mayor Aaron Hawkins was unveiled today. The official portrait of former Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins has landed. Shot in the Octagon, the black and white photograph marks the move away from painted portraits of the city's elected leaders. Councillors in 2023 voted to dump expensive oil paintings in favour of a more cost-effective option. The black and white portrait of Hawkins by Port Chalmers artist Chris Schmelz cost the city $2800. That compares to an estimate of $23,000 for a painted likeness to hang beside the portraits of other former mayors. Previous mayors have had strong reactions to their portraits with Dame Sukhi Turner calling hers "damn awful" and Dave Cull's described as an "awful likeness". Joan Wilson, wife of the late Mr Cull, said her husband wanted a photograph instead of a painting. Mr Hawkins was photographed in front of Kō to Tuhono in the Octagon. 'When it came to choosing a setting for it, there was a shortlist of one," he said in a statement. 'The arrival of Kō to Tuhono in the Octagon was a special moment during my time as mayor. "It was the first public art the city had commissioned in well over a decade, and it faces back towards Ōtakou – speaking to the growing strength of the relationship between council and mana whenua in recent years.' The portrait will be stored at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery until the refurbishment of the Municipal Chambers is complete. Mr Hawkins served as mayor from 2019 until 2022.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Official portrait of Aaron Hawkins unveiled
The official photographic portrait of former Mayor Aaron Hawkins was unveiled today. The official portrait of former Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins has landed. Shot in the Octagon, the black and white photograph marks the move away from painted portraits of the city's elected leaders. Councillors in 2023 voted to dump expensive oil paintings in favour of a more cost-effective option. The black and white portrait of Hawkins by Port Chalmers artist Chris Schmelz cost the city $2800. That compares to an estimate of $23,000 for a painted likeness to hang beside the portraits of other former mayors. Previous mayors have had strong reactions to their paintings with Dame Sukhi Turner calling hers "damn awful" and Dave Cull's described as an "awful likeness". Joan Wilson, wife of the late Mr Cull, said her husband wanted a photograph instead of a painting. Mr Hawkins was photographed in front of Kō to Tuhono in the Octagon. 'When it came to choosing a setting for it, there was a shortlist of one," he said in a statement. 'The arrival of Kō to Tuhono in the Octagon was a special moment during my time as mayor. "It was the first public art the city had commissioned in well over a decade, and it faces back towards Ōtakou – speaking to the growing strength of the relationship between council and mana whenua in recent years.' The portrait will be stored at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery until the refurbishment of the Municipal Chambers is complete. Mr Hawkins served as mayor from 2019 until 2022.
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Bookmarks with Milly Mitchell-Anyon
books music about 1 hour ago Milly Mitchell-Anyon is a rising voice in Aotearoa's arts scene - she's held exhibitions at Sarjeant Gallery, Puke Ariki, and Dunedin Public Art Gallery. She's just launched 'Flaming Star' a genre-bending show which reimagines the Wild West through queer and Indigenous lenses. She shares her book, music, film and podcast picks with Jesse.
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Exhibition chance to be heard
Art has taken on a special meaning for a Dunedin student battling chronic pain. Former King's High School student Quinn Bailey helped curate the "Connect[ed]" exhibition at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. He was invited to take part in the exhibition along with his peers at Southern Health School, Te Kura Whaiora ki te Tonga, which offers education for students too unwell to attend school fulltime. From a young age, Quinn had trouble with chronic pain and walking. "I tried to forget about it for a very long time and then after a couple of surgeries it dawned on me that maybe school isn't a place I can go to comfortably. "Maybe walking around for six hours a day is something I'll never be able to do." With support from King's, he was given the opportunity to work from home and study at his own pace at the end of year 11. He began attending the health school and got extra support from teachers when he needed it. Quinn said the exhibit became "a lot more" for him than he expected. "It's more than I thought I'd be doing with my year. "Last year, I spent just over three months in the hospital, it was a write-off and I didn't really achieve anything." This year, he chose to accept his limitations and decided to take opportunities that arose. He never thought of himself as an arts student before the project, but was excited by the opportunity to take part. "I've always thought of myself as a thoughtful person, but not with art." He realised being artistic was not about just making art and enjoyed the opportunity to think about it deeply. Having the chance to focus a single piece of art from the art gallery's collection really spoke to him. He knew he wanted to focus on Saturday Morning , by Kate Newby, right from the beginning. He found it easier to connect with the sculpture because it was "more than just artwork". "It's an expression of what everyone wants, of that feeling of back to messing around with your friends or playing or picking up stones just because they look cool ... of what would it be like if I just left adulthood behind for a moment?' "It just gives everyone an opportunity to think about that." Art gallery technical specialist Jen Boland said she came up with the idea to get students from the health school involved in curating an exhibition because she knew she would learn a lot from their different perspectives. "There are different ways of looking at the world and I thought if we could capture that and share that with our audience, then other people would get to see the magic that I get to see." She had worked with the health school for the past couple of years and wanted to do something that would contribute to its programme in a long-lasting and meaningful way. "I'm so proud and impressed with what everybody has done." Health school principal Linda Miller said the collaboration gave students the opportunity to have their voices heard and widen their footprint in the community. The exhibition opened on Sunday and runs until November 23.
