Descendants, Taonga and Stories Brought Together in New Gallery Showcase

The Whakatāne Art Gallery’s latest exhibition shines a light on paintings unseen for more than twenty years, taonga and contemporary works.

For the first time in 14 years, a new exhibition will be on display at the Whakatāne Art Gallery.

Manager Arts and Heritage, Collections and Research Aimee Ratana said four exhibits are linked together through tuku iho, following descendants of Ngāti Awa. 

"Tuku iho refers to what is passed down through generations, not just the physical objects but also knowledge, stories, practices and values."

"It speaks to continuity and how the past informs the present and how that knowledge is carried forward into the future."

The exhibition begins with E Awa Te Ara, featuring contemporay work from artists of Ngāti Awa descent alongside selected taonga from Te Whare Taonga o Taketake.  

The second exhibit features kete and other woven works from Te Teko Rāranga Rōpū, followed by Te Kuia Moko: The Last Tattooed Maori Women.

Te Kuia Moko includes 34 oil paintings from the 1970s by Harry Sangl of Māori Kuia bearing moko, including women from the Eastern Bay of Plenty. 

"These paintings had been in storage for over 20 years."

"So it's quite special that they're able to be shared with their community and a lot of their descendants will be coming to the opening tomorrow." 

Particular effort was made to include an spaces for tamariki, ensuring tuku iho can continue to be passed on to mokopuna, Ratana said.  

In the Matapihi space, Te Kura o te Pāroa have artwork on display alongside activities where visitors can create their own art. 

The exhibit differs from previous displays due to its deep connection to locals and the link between exhibitions, Ratana said. 

The mentor of Te Teko Rāranga Rōpū, Priscilla Morrison will have kete on display alongside kete made by her mother and grandmother. 

"Her grandmother is Piriheta Ngamere Patrick and she's in Te Kuia Moko so there's some nice sort of connections between the shows."

Ratana said the stories and history of people from the rohe made the exhibition especially meaningful.

Tomorrow evening the public will be welcomed into the gallery by Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa with karakia, kōrero and kai.  

"We've had lots of phone calls from medicine monks or some of the kuia who are traveling over specifically for the opening so that will be quite special for others that don't live in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to come over for the show," she said. 

Ratana said the gallery’s transformation had also created new opportunities for future events and exhibitions.

The front exhibition space has been redesigned as a flexible area that can be adapted for performances, concerts and other artistic events using movable walls, she said.

The former heritage gallery, previously located in this space, has been de-installed and moved to Te Whare Taonga o Taketake for storage.

Ratana said she hoped it would be placed back on display at the museum in the coming months.