Dates: 15th April – 6th May 2025. 11am - 5pm Daily.
Where: Artbay Gallery, Front room, 13 Marine Parade Queenstown.
Te Kawerau ā Maki, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Tamaoho, Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāti Kotimana.
Kāwai Whāriki Rau speaks to ancestral lineage, connection to land, and the abundant weaving of the hue (gourd) vine. For me, the hue is more than a plant — it is a taonga species, a cultural treasure deeply rooted in our spiritual and traditional practices. The hue connects us to our atua, our whenua and our pūrākau.
Over the past four years, we’ve been cultivating hue on our ancestral lands as part of a ten-year taonga species and cultural project endorsed by my iwi, Te Kawerau ā Maki. This mahi reconnects me to our tribal knowledge systems, enriching my Māori identity and grounding me in the daily rhythms of water, earth, and care. Our current pā hue is planted on land damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 — a stark yet beautiful canvas now brought back to life by the spreading vines of hue and regrowth.
As part of this kaupapa, my painting process also begins with the whenua. I journey to our ancestral river bed to extract the earth’s sediment, known as Parataiao. This can take weeks — gathering, preparing, and grinding each pigment into a paintable medium. When I paint, I use my hands to intuitively apply these natural colours to the canvas. The first layers emerge through touch, forming composition and flow. This way of working — with the materials of Papatūānuku — is a deeply connective, grounding experience that instinctively soothes my central nervous system. It’s not just painting; it’s a physical and spiritual return to source.
I live in Piha, on the edge of Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa. The forest, tides, winds, and textures of this coastal landscape are constant sources of inspiration. My practice involves long hours outdoors, where the elements shape both my art and my relationship with the atua. Through this connection, I find form, pattern, and meaning in nature.
Hue are descendants of Hinepūtehue, a peace-bringing atua. Her story continues through every vine I grow, every hue I paint, and every story I share. Growing hue is both an offering and a joy — an ongoing act of remembrance, resilience, and abundance.