Reflecting on the opening of my solo exhibition 'Purapura Whetū' in Perth, Western Australia

'Call on them and they shall appear'.

I have books coming out soon!

Live taonga pūoro at the opening night created a wonderful ambience.

Big thanks to everyone that came along to the opening night at The Sound Temple!

'Hiwa i te rangi, your hearts desire'.

'Our ancestors watch over us'.

It was a great feeling finally have my first solo show after all these years of being a working artist!

Big thanks to The Sound Temple for hosting the exhibition.

'The people of the rainbow gather'. SOLD.

'Celestial Connections' SOLD and 'Star Seeds' on the right.

I love doing large scale paintings! The more I do, the more I want to do!

Spoken word poetry performance at the opening night, with taonga pūoro accompaniment by Jerome Kavanagh.

'The many radiant descendants'.

Giving an artist talk on all the paintings and the concept for the exhibition. 

'Manu Ariki' limited edition prints now sold out

This limited edition run of 50 limited edition A3 art prints have now sold out.

Thank you to everyone that purchased one!

2017 art calendars SOLD OUT, THANK YOU!

Thanks to everyone that purchased a 2017 calendar! They are now all sold out. Mauriora!

'Sovereign' limited edition art prints now SOLD OUT

Limited edition of 10 signed A3 sized art prints featuring the 'Sovereign' design now all sold out.

Thank you to everyone that purchased!

'Do you think you're better than me?' a poem about Māori hating on other Māori

Here's a poem that I wrote some months back after witnessing several instances online of Māori hating on other Māori and ripping each other to shreds over various things in various ways. 

To me, we have enough battles outside of Māoridom to fight on a global scale as indigenous people and I do not believe in or support such attitudes and actions of hatred against anyone, let along against ourselves. In my opinion, cases of Māori hating on other Māori only weakens us all as a whole. As the saying goes, 'united we stand, divided we fall'.
 

'Kaua e whakaiti te tangata'

Do you think you're better than me?
With your university degree
Telling you how to be Māori
Oh the elitist snobbery
Well this is a free country 

And this is a contemporary
Generation
One Māori can never represent the entire population
I said this is a contemporary generation
And it's all about participation
Innovation
Not degradation

You think you're so traditional
Victoria Institutional
That's delusional 

The judge the jury and the hangman
Who gave you the mana
To whakaiti te tangata?

Your ego seeks to put down
In order to raise yourself up
From the gutter
Go ask your mother
What makes you Māori
She'll tell you
First it's whakapapa
It's whakapapa
It's whakapapa 

Got cousins in Australia?
Course you do
How do you think they'd take ya? 
Down on your knees
Stuck in jealousy
Pointing the finger
You're not a good Māori!

Aue te puhaehae
In the heart of the one on high
Get down off your pedestal
And peel some fucken potatoes

How deep is your matauranga
When you seek to shame another? 
How tika is your tikanga
When you laugh and mock
The one that most needs your manaakitanga? 

How tika is your tikanga?
How tika is that tikanga? 
What the fuck is that tikanga?

Kaua e whakaiti te tangata

Kei whea tou manaakitanga?
Or were you sick
On the day
They delivered that paper?

The opening of the 'Hine Raumati' exhibition by the Toi Wāhine Collective at Pātaka Art + Museum in Porirua, Wellington

VIP special evening of Māori Art in Melbourne, Australia!

Special thanks to everyone who came along to the intimate evening of Māori Art that we (myself and fellow moko artists Sian Montgomery-Neutze and Pip Hartley) held in Melbourne, Australia recently. 

It was a fun night and we are grateful to everyone that came along to show their support, learn about the artworks that were available for purchase at the event, and to hear our artists talks. We had hoped to have some special guest VIP aboriginal artists in attendance at the event, but unfortunately they couldn't make it. We hope to work more collaboratively with the indigenous people of Australia at future art events like this in Oz.

We plan to run several more collaborative, intimate and informative special events of this nature in future, at different locations around the world!

Big thanks also to Aaron Stevenson who was our photographer for the night, you can check out more of his photography work here.

More info on the event can be found here.

Original paintings for sale on the night by Sian Montgomery-Neutze.

Sian Montgomery-Neutze giving her artist talk.

Sian Montgomery-Neutze giving her artist talk.

Some of the artwork that was for sale on the night.

Some of the artwork that was for sale on the night by Miriama Grace-Smith (on the left) and Xoe Hall (on the right).

Giving my artist talk.

Viewing prints by celebrated Maori artist, Robyn Kahukiwa.

Viewing some of the collection that was available on the night.

Giving my artist talk at the one off special event.

With Melbourne based photographer, Aaron Stevenson.

Some of the contemporary Māori art collection that was available at the special event.

Some of the contemporary Māori art collection that was available at the special event.

Listening to artist talks.

An original drawing by renowned Māori artist Robyn Kahukiwa (above) and small taaniko, leather and toroa feather taonga by Sian Montgomery-Neutze (below).

Artist Pip Hartley with new friends.

Some great discussions were had.

Explaining my interpretation of original works by internationally renowned Māori artist, Robyn Kahukiwa.

Some of the contemporary Māori art collection that was available at the special event.

An original painting by Sian Montgomery-Neutze.

Pip Hartley of Karanga Ink giving her artist talk.

Some of the contemporary Māori art collection that was available at the special event.

Prints by Xoe Hall. 

New York, New York! We're coming for you!

I am beyond excited about taking a selection of art works by the Toi Wāhine Collective to ORA NY GALLERY in NEW YORK CITY very soon! Included in the capsule collection will be original paperworks, open and limited edition art prints, contemporary taonga, jewelry and a film installation.

Special guest friends of the Toi Wāhine Collective will also be performing in the gallery space on both evenings. If you have friends and whānau in New York, please share this panui with them, and help us share some of our art with the world.

Thank you!

Phase two of Toi Wāhine: 6th Jan - 25th Feb 2016

What initially started as a one-off, three week exhibition of seven Māori women artists has grown and multiplied into something far greater and more awesome! The Toi Wāhine Collective has been very fortunate to be able to continue to occupy our HQ space at 10 Hartham Place, Porirua.

We opened our second exhibition on 6th January with an intimate gathering, and this time around we had several new guest artists join the fold. Included in the second round of Toi Wāhine, alongside our initial seven founding members were artists:

Robyn Kahukiwa
Alison Waru
Jess Potiki
Kaea Graham
Awhina Tamarapa
Pip Hartley
Stevei Houkamau
Kui Topia
Hayley Galo
Maxine Montgomery

The Toi Wāhine Collective is very grateful to have the support of these outstanding Māori Women Artists and to include the work of these women into our ever-evolving and expanding art project.

Tomorrow (26th Feb) will see phase three of Toi Wāhine born, with new works being hung, and more new artists contributing to our kaupapa.

18 year old artist Kaea Graham hanging works for phase two of Toi Wāhine.

My new fashion project launched during phase two of Toi Wāhine.

Founding member Sian Montgomery-Neutze and some of our tamariki practicing their kirituhi skills at the space.

A sold work by Robyn Kahukiwa, whom we are over the moon to have involved in our project.

Work by Robyn Kahukiwa for the childrens book 'The Blue Book and Other Stories' written by Rangimarie Sophie Jolley and illustrated by Robyn. You can order one of these books at Toi Wāhine HQ.

Work by Jess Potiki included in phase two.

Detail of painting by Sian Montgomery-Neutze.

Me and guest moko artist Pip Hartley of Tuwharetoa outside the space.

Tamariki of Toi Wāhine, Niwareka and Maahaki.

Detail of painting by Alison Waru from the East Coast.

My new fashion project launched at the space during phase two.

My new fashion project launched at the space during phase two.

Kaea Graham getting her painting ready to hang for phase two.

Me with a lovely moko client during phase two.

New notebooks I launched during phase two.

My new fashion project launched during phase two.

Me with Ngāti Toa whānau that came to Toi Wāhine HQ for tā moko during phase two.

A new style i've started experimenting with during phase two.

New painting by founding member Pikihuia Haenga-Carkeek.

We were thrilled to host guest moko artist Pip Hartley at the space for a few days visiting from Karanga Ink in Auckland.

Guest moko artist Pip Hartley working on a painting at the space.

The ever evolving front of HQ during phase two.

Freehand draw up before the tattooing process begins on one of my clients during phase two.

Moko artist Sian Montgomery-Neutze tattooing clay artist Stevei Houkamau.

New sets of small art prints I launched during phase two.

New work by Pikihuia Haenga-Carkeek that always makes people laugh when they come in.

Moko artist Sian Montgomery-Neutze putting in work at the space.

Work by Robyn Kahukiwa at Toi Wāhine HQ.

Work I completed at TWHQ for a New Zealand woman currently working as a lawyer in Cayman Islands.

Our signage is always changing like we are.

Original painting by Robyn Kahukiwa at Toi Wāhine HQ.

Our youngest artist Kaea Graham putting in work at our most recent art making waananga.

Our most recent art making waananga in the space.

Our most recent art making waananga at the space.

Our most recent art making waananga at the space.

My shoes adorned by Kaea Graham at our most recent art making waananga.

Kaea Graham putting in work at our most recent art making waananga.

Reflecting on the opening of Toi Wāhine 2015 at 10 Hartham Pl, Porirua

On 2nd December myself and six other female Māori artists affiliated to the Porirua area (Xoe Hall, Pikihuia Carkeek-Haenga, Sophie Jolley, Miriama Grace-Smith, Sian Montgomery-Neutze, Keri-Mei Zagrobelna) had our exhibition opening for Toi Wāhine 2015 at 10 Hartham Place in Porirua.

Thanks to Urban Dream Brokerage who helped us to obtain the awesome space to have our show in. Thank you to everyone that came along to the opening event and made it such a special night!

Here are some photos from Toi Wāhine 2015 which ran for three weeks from 2nd - 22nd December 2015.

Sold out art prints: wahine toa limited edition of 45

I am very pleased that these limited edition art prints have now all sold out! Big thank you to everyone that purchased one, I really value your support!

Mauriora!
Taryn

"A māreikura, an angel, a protector, an icon, a higher self, a vision, a messenger being, a friend, a reflection, a woman of light and strength, a reminder, a role model, an alter ego, a sister, a mother, a daughter, a grandmother, a guardian, an aunty, an archetype to aspire to be like, a modern day warrior, a personification of the divine feminine - this is what the 'Wahine Toa' art print speaks to and represents."

Sold out art prints! Thanks to you guys!

Thank you to everyone that has been purchasing my art prints so far, I really appreciate your support and I love the idea of my art going all around the world and into peoples homes and personal lives. Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa!

These 'Te Waipounamu' prints were a limited edition run of 10 and they are now all sold out.

Progress shot of 'Te Waipounamu' A3 drawing.

Progress shot of 'Te Waipounamu' A3 drawing.

My 'Ūkaipō' pink art prints as shown below were a limited edition run of 20 and they are now all sold out too.

$10NZD from every one of these art prints was donated to Kai4Kids, a New Zealand charity that provides food to schools in low decile areas. Together we donated $200NZD to this great kaupapa - thank you, thank you, thank you.

My latest art print to sell out was an A4 limited edition run of 20 again, called 'Of course i'm a feminist' as shown below. Thanks to everyone that bought one!

I am currently working on some more new limited edition art print designs (they are so much fun) so keep an eye out! Thanks again for buying my art, I am so grateful!

Taking tā moko tattooing into fine art galleries

Last weekend I attended the opening of 'He Toi Reikorangi: Te Ātiawa artists celebrate Matariki' at Mahara Gallery in Waikanae, on the Kapiti Coast of the Wellington region (New Zealand). It was super exciting and hundrends of people showed up to celebrate and show their support for the exhibition, including some of the best Māori artists in the world. For the duration of the opening weekend, Mahara Gallery invited myself, Rangi Kipa and Mitchell Hughes to showcase our tā moko expertise.

The fact that this exhibition opening was in Waikanae was personally significant to me, because my grandmother spent a lot of her life growing up in Waikanae, and her grandfather Wi Parata was a well known leader of the area and one of the biggest landowners - in fact Waikanae was once known as 'Parata Town'.

Iwi exhibitions are one of my favorite types of exhibitions because they reinforce and strengthen the whakapapa/genealogical bonds between the artists and the people of the iwi they belong to. Iwi exhibitions are a positive and uplifting community kaupapa that bring people together, showcasing the artistic excellence and skills amongst that particular tribe - I think that in itself, is an inspiring and empowering outcome.

A section of the moko peha that I worked on at Mahara Gallery during the exhibition opening weekend.

My eight year old apprentice, Ria Te Uira, stretching skin at Mahara Gallery.

My niece Ria Te Uira is a great little apprentice.

One of the reasons that I love to bring tā moko into art galleries is that it exposes and opens up the art form and cultural practice, to an entirely different audience, an audience that may not ever have the chance to see tā moko happening in real life, in any other situation. The potential for engagement with the public is great in an art gallery setting, and I enjoy answering the many and varied questions that people come up with. Having tā moko artists working in an art gallery space is magnetic, cutting edge, and a rare opportunity for gallery viewers to witness the tā moko process.

Another reason that I enjoy bringing tā moko into art gallery (and museum) settings is because I believe that all of our Māori art forms are inter-related and connected. Our various different art forms are at their strongest when put together and combined, contrasted against each other, complimenting one another, feeding into, informing and in conversation with one another. A decorated wharenui is a prime example of this, as is kapa haka where you see many of our art forms in relationship together at once.

The idea of inter-related art forms is part of the reason why I love collaborating and working alongside other artists, that use different mediums to me. It is also why I am currently enjoying the use of taonga puoro by Jerome Kavanagh, to compliment my tā moko process.

Tohunga tā moko, Rangi Kipa was also tattooing at Mahara Gallery for the exhibition opening weekend, as was moko artist Mitchell Hughes.

An outstanding modern work by master artist, Rangi Kipa.

Inspiring tukutuku work in the exhibition by my whanaunga, expert weaver Kohai Grace.

Photographic portraits in the exhibition featuring Te Ātiawa women and their moko kauae, by Heloise Bergman.

Whakairo in the exhibition by my whanaunga, Rakairoa Hori.

Painting in the exhibition by one of my favorite contemporary Māori painters, Darcy Nicholas.

Outstanding hue by expert weaver, Veranoa Hetet.

I love this work by Tracey Morgan using seaweed and tāniko.

I have two prints on show in the exhibition, 'Manu Ariki' and 'Hine Ariki'. The kete shown in the foreground are by Snooks Forster.

My painting 'Te Āhuru Mōwai' currently at Mahara Gallery. This painting refers to a 'cosy haven' inside the womb of a woman, the home of a baby growing, the amniotic fluid and the dna / ancestral material that makes up the baby and who the baby is / will become.

The photos of art work shown in this article are just a snapshot of the full exhibition and there are many more awesome and innovative works on show until 12th July 2015, so go and see for yourself!

Come along to the opening of 'He Toi Reikorangi - Te Ātiawa artists celebrate Matariki' this Friday in Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast

I am thrilled to be a part of this kaupapa alongside some of my favorite Māori artists. Come along to the exhibition opening this Friday at 4pm, Mahara Gallery. Hope to see you there!

Mauriora,
Taryn