Art connection on show in Nelson: Māori artists exhibiting clay creations

The connection between Māori and uku (clay) will be on full display as Māori artists showcase their artwork at Te Aratoi o Whakatu in Nelson as part of Clay Week. 

Tairāwhiti artists Baye Riddell (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare) and Amanda Kemp (Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri) have pieces in the Hineukurangi: Māori Clay Artists exhibition that opens on Saturday at the Suter Art Gallery. 

The exhibition features contributions from emerging and established Māori clay artists from across the motu, including members of Ngā Kaihanga Uku, the Māori clay workers’ collective. 

Kemp is a ceramic sculpture artist who creates bespoke lighting, manawaroa tiles, whenua vessels and jewellery. 

Riddell, based in Tokomaru Bay, became a fulltime potter in 1974 and was the first Māori artist to commit to this profession. 

He co-founded Ngā Kaihanga Uku in 1986 with the late Manos Nathan. 

Riddell is looking forward to exhibiting his pieces at the exhibition, particularly because curator Carla Ruka is a member of the Māori clay collective. 

He has three pieces in the exhibition based on the warrior culture of Māori.  

The pieces are called Kia Kaha, Kia Toa and Kia Manawanui. 

He says it will be nice to meet and share kōrero about clay works with other artists, including some new ones he hasn’t met before. 

Riddell has been involved in many exhibitions over his career and he always enjoys them, as a chance to see how other artists are progressing with their mahi. 

“Māori have a close connection to uku and papatūānuku, and using the clay to express those connections as Māori working with it is a powerful and genuine expression of being Māori and our connections to papatūānuku.” 

The exhibition is inspired by the whakatauākī (proverb) “He kōmiringa uku, he kōmiringa tāngata” which means like clay, the heart, mind, soul and spirit of people may be moulded. 

The exhibition has been organised by ceramic sculptor Carla Ruka (Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi, Tauiwi), a member of Ngā Kaihanga Uku, who says the whakatauākī contains an important message for Māori clay artists. 

Ruka has curated the work of over 20 Māori clay artists to explore the realm of Hineukurangi, the Māori deity of clay. 

“It reminds us of the inspiration that is given shape by our work and the importance of sharing our inspiration widely,” she said. 

The curator and exhibiting artists have a range of activities contributing to Nelson Clay Week, including workshops, artist talks, and presentations. 

There will be a presentation panel by members of Ngā Kaihanga Uku, followed by a book signing for their recent publication by Riddell detailing the history of Māori clay artists and the formation of the collective. 

As the author of the Ngā Kaihanga Uku book, Riddell said feedback since it was released nearly a year ago had been positive and complimentary.  

See www.clayweek.nz for more programme information. 

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