HINE RAUMATI 2022
Too Hot, Ageless, SUN lover
Acrylic on ply box painted for the Here and Out Exhibition at Toi Poineke WGTN - Sold
Hine Raumati is the Atua of Summer and one of two wives to Tamanuiterā, the Sun. Each year the lucky bugger spends six months with his summer lover and six months with his winter kuīni, Hine Takarua. The arrangement seems to work for them as it hasn't changed since the begining of time. What has changed though is Hine Raumati gets hotter and hotter by the year...which for some reason is not of huge concern to many? It is to me.
BLOODLINE - A Kāi Tahu Creation Story
DUNEDIN PUBLIC ART GALLER - Ōtepoti 2022
My contribution to Paemanu: Tauraka Toi – A landing place
Bloodline acknowledges Takaroa, Atua of the Sea, senior bloodline of Kāi tahu, as the first husband of Papatūānuku, Earth Mother. While Takaroa spent much of his time in the great expanse of the ocean, he would eventually return to find Papa intertwined with the Sky Father, Rakinui (Takaroas nephew). Despite his efforts, their love was untouchable, and Takaroa had no choice but to let it be and stepped aside for things to come.
Another immortal heart was broken in the coming together of Earth and Sky. Pokoharua-Te-Pō , mother of wind and storms, a maiden of the night and first wife to Rakinui. Their son Aoraki and his brothers sailed their waka beyond the realms to ask their father to come home. But seeing that they too could not break the bounds of love, recited a karakia for safe return to the heavens...but they made a mistake in their incantation which sealed their earthbound fate. Their waka crashed into Papa, where they eventually turned to stone. Standing tall amongst the clouds, Aoraki is the mighty mountain of Kāi Tahu.
The sons of Rakinui and Papa would eventually succeed in seperating their parents forever, a choice they had to make for light to shine and allow the world to grow. They erected poū to hold their parents apart, see Papa trying to remove one from her side.
Pounamu adorns the mural throughout. As a descendant of Takaroa, pounamu is of a higher bloodline than the uri of Rakinui and Papa, including people.
See nods to Mahuika, Hinenuitepō and Māui as you often do in my works. Hints of so many more stories of our tīpuna, lessons to learn, knowledge to take forward.
Mauri ora!
PINOT & PICASSO WGTN CBD 2022
Christchurch Art Gallery - Otautahi 2022
Hine-tītama/Hinenutepō is here to remind you to R.E.S.P.E.C.T, uplift, support, celebrate, worship, treasure, pay, listen to, love, believe and protect our wāhine EVERY DAY.
It was the complete lack of all things mentioned above that forced Hine-tītama to double down on her Atua status and embrace the night to become Hinenuitepō. Then this boss KUĪNI was ruling in two worlds, day and night, FORVER!...so you know, whats the lesson here? And what happened to Māui when he tried to trick her? She brought mortality upon the whole world, that's what.
There was no war in Ukraine when I started the mural, but by the time I had finished the job, the whole world had changed. The torch of Mahuika often appears in my work to shine a light on the past, what lessons are there that we can take with us going forward? What happened to Māui when he tried to steal her fire? He got burned. Don't loose your fire people, shine bright and KIA KAHA.
I cannot thank the team at @chchartgallery for the amazing opportunity to paint this mural and for the support and encouragement I got along the way. An unforgettable experience indeed and many new e hoas were made. Special thanks to the legend @asher for being my amazing assistant in painting and pūrākau kōrero for the first week, I couldn't have done it without you! And @mel you are such an inspiring, glowing force I am so lucky to have been able to work with NGĀ MIHI NUI!!!
2020 = Unfuck the world! Acrylic on canvas, sold.
KA MUA, KA MURI - Commissioned by COCA Massey, 2020
A story mural that was designed after the nation wide Covid lockdown with dreams of a better and more sustainable future for our people and our land in mind.
I think it is important to go back to the beginning, back to our roots, to find the pieces of the future we want to build. And in the beginning there was complete darkness. Darkness caused by the greatest love there ever was!
In order of appearance from the Gym wall to the School facing wall;
RANGINUI and PAPATŪĀNUKU held each other so tight, no light could get in. But, like all tragic love stories, they were eventually separated forever by their sons, and today we bask in the sun.
HIWA-I-TE-RANGI, a star of Matariki, is the one we send our wishes and intentions to for the year to come. Well 2020 has turned the world on its head so let's start again. I wish we all do a lot better for the planet and each other.
HINE-NUI-TE-PŌ, the death of an old era, death to broken systems, colonisation, racism, sexism, slavery, pollution and everything else that is hurting the planet and each other. It doesn't work.
HINE-TĪTAMA , the flashing dawn of a new era! Let's take all that good stuff with us into the future like equality, sustainability, and kindness for a start. Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua.
MAHUIKA, lights the way out of the dark with her firey nails glowing like torches. Fire to warm your bones and fuel your heart. Fire for the fiery! And as MĀUI found out, those who mess with ancestral fire, get burnt.
FUTURE, coming soon...
Hand painted public artworks located around beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand
MAHUIKA for Colenso BBDO
Auckland 2022
Paintings of atua wāhine such as Mahuika, Hinenuitepō and Hinetitama
Book cover art for Tayi Tibbles incredible debut collection of poetry “Poūkahagatus” and follow up book “Rangikura”.
XOË HALL X GINA KIEL X MIRIAMA GRACE-SMITH
JAM Hairdressing let me pay tribute to my childhood idol, 3 times.
Located at the brand new i-site info centre in Wellington, the centre features a large mural glitter mural of Hinemoana which pays tribute to the Māori legend of Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour) and the two taniwha that called it home, Ngake and Whataitai.
Love an opportunity to get down’n’dirty with illustrations for poster, merch and album art for some of my fave local punk bands, gigs, art exhibitions and party times.
Cover art for Claire Robinsons book ‘Promises Promises - 80 Years of Wooing New Zealand’.
Brimming with political-party campaign advertisements from the 1938 election to the present day, this colourful, engaging book brings together 80 years of political advertisements that can truly be said to have made New Zealand history. The author’s analysis is penetrating and original and visual material is abundant and revealing. Perfect for history, politics, design and nostalgia buffs.