Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art

Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art was a survey exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in New Zealand. The exhibition took place from Saturday 5 December 2020 to Sunday 9 May 2021 and utilised the footprint of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

The exhibition was curated by curator and artist Nigel Borell and displayed art spanning from the 1950s onwards. Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art compiled over 300 artworks from 111 Māori artists, some of whom are New Zealand's most significant artists.

Concept


The exhibition explores 70 years of Māori art through the framework of the Māori creation myth. With artworks spanning a multitude of artistic outcomes including sculpture, painting, film, ceramics, weaving, jewelry and digital art. Informed by Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview), the exhibition was split into concepts to mirror the Māori creation narrative.

The dimly lit opening room of the exhibition represented Te Kore (The Great Nothingness) and contained artworks such as Whenua Kore (2019), by Robert Jahnke, Black Painting: Orange/Blue/Indigo (1969) by Ralph Hotere and Universe (2001) by Peter Robinson. The next room represented Te Po (The Perpetual Night) with works such as Wai o te Marama (2004) by Maureen Lander, Ara-i-te-uru (2011) Israel Tangaroa Birch and Konae Korero #2 (2008) by Darryn George. Following the narrative, the next room transitioned to the story of Te Wehenga o Rānginui raua ko Papatūānuku (The Separation of Rānginui and Papatūānuku) which is represented through works such as Lisa Reihana's video installation, Ihi (2020) and Fiona Pardington's Davis Kea Wings (2015).

Moving to Te Ao Marama (The World of Light and Life) the gallery's display works such as Robyn Kahukiwa's Hinetitama (1980) and Saffronn Te Rratana, Hemi Macgregor and Ngataihuru Taepa's group work, Tu te manu ora i te Rangi (2008). The next room represented Te Poropiti me te Whakapātari (Prophecy and Provocation) with artworks such as Peter Robinson's Strategic Plan, (1998) and Rachel Rakena's video work Rerehiko, (2003).

The exhibition expanded outside the gallery with installations in Britomart in Auckland's CBD. These included the digital installation, SCOUT: Wawata Hōhonu (2020) by Lyonel Grant and Tim Gruchy. The installation work, Te Hau Whakaroa (2020) by Charlotte Graham and a large scale permanent mural by Shane Cotton entitled Maunga. It is located on the side of the Excelsior House near the back of the Britomart Transport Centre.

Publication
The publication, Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art, was edited by Nigel Borell, designed by Tyrone Ohia and the layout by Katrina Duncan.

The publication won multiple awards, including Gold at the Best Design Awards 2022 (Designer's Institute of New Zealand) for 'Editorial and Books' along with Gold in the 'Toitanga' Maori design category. In 2023 it won The Art Association of Australia and New Zealand (AAANZ) Arts Writing and Publishing Award 'Best Large Exhibition Catalogue'. The book also received the supreme award at The Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ) Book Design Awards in 2023.

Reception
Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art was a landmark exhibition and the largest exhibition of Māori art since, Te Māori (1984–1987), which toured The United States of America and Aotearoa New Zealand. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki's last survey offering of Māori art was, Pūrangiaho: Seeing Clearly, curated by Ngahiraka Mason in 2001. Discourse surrounding the exhibition suggested the overdue nature of an exhibition of this kind and celebrated the breadth of work and curatorial approach.

Artists & Artworks
The following is a list of all artists and artworks included in Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art: