Carousel slide 1 imageResponding to the Tuia 250 kaupapa
Join us for a casual kōrero with these two contemporary artists in the Tākiri: An Unfurling exhibition. Explore the themes in their practices along with their artistic responses to the Tuia 250 kaupapa.
Tākiri: An Unfurling joins the ongoing dialogue around early encounters between Māori and Europeans in Aotearoa 250 years ago. Consider the impact through the work of seven contemporary artists, two curators and taonga of historic significance.
Chris Charteris was born in Auckland (1966) and currently lives in Whitianga. Charteris was originally trained in Māori design and carving at Te Rarawa Marae, in Northland in the mid-1980s, and began working as a full-time artist in the early 90s. Between 1986 and 1996 he worked as a carving tutor. In 1995 he established Te Whare Whakairo Gallery and Workshop in Dunedin. Since 1996 he has exhibited his carved pieces in many solo and group exhibitions in New Zealand and internationally, Including Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, The British Museum, National Gallery of Victoria and QAGOMA, Brisbane.
Kohai Grace, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou, Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Raukawa, is a weaver adept in customary weaving techniques, designs and materials. Her work is informed by research of garments in museum and private collections. With over 30 years’ experience, Kohai’s work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and is held in the collection of Te Papa Tongarewa. She holds a Masters in Māori Visual Arts from Toioho ki Āpiti Massey University.
We talk with contemporary sculptor Chris Charteris (iKiribati, Fijian, English) about the kaupapa of his work.