Interview
Living Archives

Living Archives

Archives are collections of knowledge used to tell stories about artists and history. By drawing on the legacy of art historians Jonathan Mane-Wheoki, Julie King and Karen Stevenson, Living Archives focuses on intergenerational relationships, artistic lineage and creative networks. Gallery librarian and archivist Tim Jones and curator Melanie Oliver sat down to talk about archives and art history as they prepared for this exhibition.

Artist Profile
Raymond McIntyre

Raymond McIntyre

It’s been too long a time between exhibitions for expatriate Waitaha Canterbury artist Raymond McIntyre (1879–1933) here at the Gallery. Although his work is regularly included in group exhibitions, the last focused survey was forty years ago when Raymond McIntyre toured to the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. Maybe a few of our readers remember this exhibition, but it feels like time he was introduced to a new audience.

Interview
Te Mauri o te Puna Springs Into Life

Te Mauri o te Puna Springs Into Life

For more than fifteen years, the Gallery has been commissioning artists to respond to the unique challenges posed by ‘the bunker’ – the brutalist underground carpark entrance on our forecourt. For our current project, we invited Kāi Tahu artist Areta Wilkinson to create a work that could be displayed for five years. Lead curator Felicity Milburn recently spoke with Areta about Te Mauri o te Puna.

Interview
Ko Te Kihikihi Taku Ingoa

Ko Te Kihikihi Taku Ingoa

Chloe Cull: Tēnā koe Whāea, thank you for making time when I know how busy you are. We’re here to talk about your work – Ko te Kihikihi Taku Ingoa – currently installed in our foyer at Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch Art Gallery. Ko te Kihikihi Taku Ingoa has come here to Ōtautahi from Ngāmotu New Plymouth in Taranaki, where it was first commissioned by the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. It also brings with it kōrero from Aotea Great Barrier Island, where you’re from. Let’s start with Taranaki – can you talk about the specific history from there that this work responds to?

Commentary
Unutai e! Unutai e!

Unutai e! Unutai e!

Unutai e! Unutai e!
Ko te wai anake, te au e riporipo ana ki mea roto, ki mea awa, ki te nuku o te whenua?
Aue taukuri e!

Pupū ake a Muriwai Ōwhata i a roimata He manawa piako te Papa ā-Kura o Takaroa
Waimate haere ana te waiora Kai hea rā taku ika e?
Kai hea rā te oraka mō taku iwi e!

What has transpired?
Only the rippling waters of this lake and of that river can be heard flowing across the land

Muriwai Ōwhata is over-flowing with tears
The great hīnaki of Māui, Te Papa ā-Kura o Takaroa, is like a hollow and empty heart
The life-giving waters are turning brackish and undrinkable
Where have our fresh water fish species gone?
Where are our people able to thrive?

My Favourite
Mataaho Collective: Kiko Moana

Mataaho Collective: Kiko Moana

As we enter the Whāia te Taniwha exhibition, I gasp audibly, struck by a wave of nostalgia as I take in Mataaho Collective’s work, Kiko Moana. Like our rivers that flow from the mountains to the sea, the deep blue work cascades from its elevated position and rushes toward me in full glory. Ki uta ki tai. From the mountains, to the rivers, to the sea. It demands attention and respect.

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