Raukura Turei, Te Poho o Hinemoana, 2021
Ko te ngau a Hine-Moana
Ki a Hinetūakirikiri
He ngau mutunga kore
He ngau kukume iho
Ko tōku Kuia tērā
Hine-Moana gnaws away at the shore line. With every lap of her waves a greeting to Hinetūakirikiri and Hineoneone whose fine sands are slowly formed by this caress. The sea eats away at the whenua. The sturdy defender Rakahore of rock and stone eventually merges with Parawhenuamea of silt and sediment. These fine particles slowly build up again to form the body of Papatūānuku. This constant ebb and flow is a ceaseless cycle, for centuries completely undisturbed, uninterrupted.
The six panel work in Mark Work use onepū, the black iron sands endemic to the rough west coast. An ode to Te Henga where my Kuia was taken off the rocks by Hine-Moana. A victim to this constant cycle. I never met my Kuia, but I am reminded of her presence in the mamae and grief that I silently carry, that often only the moana can strip from my shoulders.
– Raukura Turei
Ruakura Turei, Te Poho o Hinemoana, 2021
onepū (iron sand), raw pigment and oil on linen, 254 x 610 cm
This new major work by Turei was jointly commissioned by CoCA Centre for Contemporary Art Toi Moroki and Objectspace. Presently showing as part of:
Mark Work
CoCA Centre for Contemporary Art Toi Moroki
Ōtautahi Christchurch
12 June – 28 August 2021
The exhibition will tour to Objectspace, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland later this year.
CoCA Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki