underfoot: Kōrero with Raukura Turei and Nathan Pōhio

To mark the final weekend of group exhibition underfoot, join exhibiting artist Raukura Turei and Nathan Pōhio, Senior Curator Māori Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, for a kōrero with James Gatt, Te Uru’s Curator. Turei and Pōhio will offer their perspectives on whenua and its poetic uses throughout the exhibition.

Turei (Ngāi Tai, Ngā Rauru) is a multi-disciplinary artist. She uses natural materials collected from Papatūānuku in her practice, such as aumoana, a blue clay from her tīpuna whenua of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and onepū, black iron sands from Te Uru, Auckland’s West coast. Through her research into atua wāhine and her journey in reconnecting with her whakapapa, painting is a tool to connect to her tīpuna. Her paintings evoke the strength of ngā atua wāhine Māori, while meditating on the self, sensuality, and body sovereignty.

Pōhio (Waitaha, Kāti Mamoe, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāti Pakeha) is an artist and curator. He is a founding member of Paemanu: Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts, Co-Vice President of Te Ūaka Lyttleton Museum. Pōhio worked at Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch Art Gallery from 2002 to 2021 and co-curated a number of significant exhibitions including Ralph Hotere: Ātete, to Resist. He took up the position of Senior Curator Māori Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in 2022.

11 May, 11am-12pm