Ngā Hau Ngākau exhibition opens at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom

Published on December 14, 2018

A touring exhibition of luminous paintings, intricately carved taonga pūoro and beautiful music opens at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom in Foxton on Friday 21 December.

Ngā Hau Ngākau is a collaboration between artist and educator Robin Slow, carver and educator QSM Brian Flintoff, and New Zealand Order of Merit musician and educator Bob Bickerton. Toured by Nelson’s Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū, it uses painting, sculpture and sound to explore harmony, memory and storytelling.

The exhibition includes 36 paintings, 2 kete and 1 whariki (woven mat) by Mr Slow; 34 carvings by Mr Flintoff; and a soundscape and video by Mr Bickerton, with vocals and taonga pūoro (Māori musical instruments) by Ariana Tikao, Holly Weir-Tikao and Solomon Rahui. Their artwork evokes a whare whakairo dedicated to birds and birdsong, and includes images, sculptures and audio-visual representations of the characters and mythology of Māori bird ancestors.

Horowhenua District Council Principal Advisor – Culture and Exhibitions, Awhina Tamarapa, said the exhibition’s tour to Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom offers a rare opportunity for people in Manawatū to see Ngā Hau Ngākau.

Rev. Canon Colleen Henderson and Āwhina Anne Watson, both of Ngāti Pāhauwera, and Āwhina Pikinga-o-ngā-Maunga McFadyen of Ngāti Rangi, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, will open the exhibition with a blessing at 10am.

Opening formalities will conclude with a performance of taonga pūoro by Mr Bickerton, Ms Tikao and taonga pūoro musician and researcher Alistair Fraser to illuminate the sounds and instruments of the exhibition.

The exhibition is free and will be on display until Sunday 3 February.