WHAKAATURANGA
LOMBARD
21 FEBRUARY - 17 MARCH 2024
DLT makes his return to Pōneke from a pioneering hip hop artist to an innovative ringatoi.
From his time at Toimairangi with Sandy Adsett, Darryl/DLT has been learning about the relationship between colours on the canvas reflective of whānau connections and bonds.
This is DLT’s first solo show, and we are honoured at Ihorei to exhibit some of his dearest and latest works.
LOMBARD breaks tradition — adapts, and flows from the past to today. DLT’s continued efforts to ‘change sh*t up’ keeps his craft fresh and true as ever.
Darryl DLT Thomson (Ngāi Upokoiri, Ngāti Hinemanu)
MATATIKI
HE TOHU RANGATIRA
12 JULY - 5 AUGUST 2023
Tērā a Matariki a Puanga, ka rewa i te pae. Ko Pōhutukawa tērā e pīataata mai nei i tēnei wāhanga o te tau, te kaikawe i ō tātou mate kia hoki ki te waka o Tama Rereti – rātou te hunga mate ki a rātou. Tātou ko ngā waihotanga iho, tēnā tātou katoa.
As we remember those we have lost in the past year, we also gather to celebrate with whānau, share kai, aspirations, stories of those who are no longer with us. We make plans for the future - Matariki Ahunga Nui! In this same way, Ihorei is honoured and proud to present MataTIKI – he tohu rangatira Exhibition as an exploration of one of our most prized and culturally iconic taonga - the hei tiki.
“Ko te pounamu he tuhonotanga ki ngā tīpuna, kātahi ki ngā atua” - Piri Sciascia
These exquisite taonga physically connect us to our atua and tīpuna from their source materials, to adornment, to naming of taonga through whakapapa. Our hei tiki from old and today celebrate and acknowledge artistic excellence and have a place in our future as te iwi Māori. They were the pinnacle of artistry and remain so today. The hei tiki were rarely seen 25 years ago on marae or were not regularly celebrated and visible see in our whānau, kapa haka, mahi and hapū today. Like tā moko and waka hourua, the hei tiki has seen a significant resurgence of creation and development and today, we are privileged to witness its resurgence
MataTIKI has been a year in the making and is the one of the largest collections of newly created hei tiki in recent years. Like many of our taonga Māori and traditions, they were systematically dismantled through colonisation -- but we have survived, and so have our taonga.
Ihorei Gallery acknowledges the ten incredible artists who have contributed works towards this exhibition -- exploring size, materiality, form and whakairo while expressing our contemporary narratives of today.
"An enduring treasure in a cultural continuum - Dougal Austin
We invite you to witness history, excellence, and expression of today’s finest hei tiki from some of Māoridom’s most prolific artists and visit the MataTIKI he tohu rangatira exhibition at Ihorei Gallery.
Nau mai rā e ngā hua o te tau hou!
BECAUSE YOU'RE MAGIC
8 JUNE - 1 JULY 2023
Rongomaiaia Te Whaiti, a painter of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa (Ngāti Hikawera, Ngāti Hinewaka) and Ngāi Tahu descent explores kōrero tuku iho through her work as a means to engage in contemporary discourse.
“You’re magic people to me. Hold your head up high, let your voices fly. I’m proud to be Māori, Proud to be Māori, Proud to be Māori” (composed by Dave Para)
Resonating through the corridors of Te Whare Paremata, and echoing across the motu since, those were the captivating words sung by Rawiri Waititi during his symbolic maiden speech as co-leader of Te Paati Māori in 2020.
In the midst of the transformative mid-late 19th century, hapū embarked on a journey to redefine their identity driven by the dynamic interplay of political and religious movements. This pivotal era served as a catalyst, sparking a rapid evolution in the artistic expression within the whare whakairo where the rendering of naturalistic paintings became a powerful means to convey the ideologies and spiritual values of the hapū. A notable example relative to the artist was Tākitimu meeting house of Ngāti Hikawera hapū in Wairarapa. Opened by Te Kooti in 1891, Tākitimu's existence was tragically cut short when it burnt down just two decades after its construction.
At the turn of the 21st century, Prof. Robert Jahnke (Ngai Taharora) worked with Saffron Te Ratana (Ngāi Tūhoe) and Shane Cotton (Ngāpuhi) to adorn the double doors within the mahau of Taharora meeting house, originally built by Riwai Pakerau of Ngāi Taharora, Waipiro Bay[1]. A student of Jahnke's at the time (Toioho ki Āpiti), Te Ratana was tasked with investigating the naturalistic painting style of Riwai Pakerau. Te Ratana drew connections to Pakerau's artistic legacy through her exquisite depiction of naturalistic trees with branches resembling arms and hands holding paintbrushes. A Toioho ki Āpiti wānanga at Taharora in 2006 and various experiences since has given impetus to Te Whaiti's exploration and contribution to the ongoing whakapapa of Māori naturalistic painting.
Drawing inspiration from the painted doors of Taharora, Because you’re magic emerges as a series of paintings portraying symbols of rangatiratanga, critical to our individual and collective existence both then and now. Through this series, the spirit of our unique culture are brought to life, bridging the past and present in a celebration of who we are… proud to be Māori!
[1] Jahnke, R. (2006). He Tataitanga Ahua Toi: The House that Riwai Built/A Continuum of Māori Art. [Doctoral Dissertation, Massey University]. Massey Research Online. http://hdl.handle.net/10179/984
WHAKAATURANGA
2022
'PŌUA' EXHIBITION
21 JUNE - 28 JULY
2022
Pōua was an exhibition that celebrated the passion and attributes of the late Piri Sciascia, fondly known as Pōua by his mokopuna (grandchildren). It combined whānau taonga and newly commissioned works gathered since his passing in January 2020.
Toitū te tāonga, whatu ngarongaro te tangata - People perish, but tāonga remain and their stories endure.
Piri believed in naming taonga and giving them life/purpose. He would name taonga after significant whenua (lands), tipuna (ancestors), and kaupapa ora (life events). The Pōua exhibition elevates these taonga, their names and stories.
15 works were exhibited and represented 15 of his mokopuna. This was the very first exhibition for Ihorei and there are more to come.
TAE WHENUA
12 APRIL - 6 MAY 2023
TAE WHENUA is a collection of work that explores the use of earth pigments and natural materials.
All of the work was created over the course of approximately 8 weeks and is bound together less by an overarching theme and more by the use of earth pigments and natural materials. This was intentional as I wanted the freedom to explore, make freely and have fun without feeling too restricted by a definative concept. Therefore some of the works were ideas that I’ve had in mind for some time, some were influenced by events that took place over the course of the 8 weeks and others are further developments of previous works.
Each of the paintings are original, hand painted with earth pigments and come custom framed in UV protective glass with the exception of two online exclusive pieces that are unframed.
An exhibition by Sian Montgomery-Neutze (Ngāi Tara, Muaūpoko)
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HAUTUTU EXHIBITION
9 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER
2022
‘Haututu’ is an exploration of imagery, line, form and colour through the art of tutu. It Is making art for art's sake with nothing too serious.
Although light-hearted in the intention, there is growth, development, and enlightenment within the process. This is a space where the magic happens, and an artist truly finds uniqueness.
The intention of this show was to be light, fun, and colourful with the hope of evoking feelings of happiness. It’s a show where works offer hope, like the clearing of the rain and the beauty after a storm - some of the world's most simple pleasures and innate challenges - explored through the many interpretations of pūrākau pertaining to the rainbow.
An exhibition by Erena Koopu (Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Awa)