Huia Edmonds & Ngaire Tuhua
Ngāti Porou, Tūwharetoa, Ngapuhi, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Whātua
Huia is an emerging artist specialising in graphite and charcoal drawings. His most recent works include surrealist drawings of the human figure with bird heads of endemic New Zealand birds, namely, the wattle bird species. The aim of Huia’s artwork is to challenge misconceptions around Māori mental health by placing a strong emphasis on holistic remedies relevant to Māori. These include, but are not limited to, cultural identity, whānau and community.
Ngaire is an emerging artist who has worked with a variety of mediums including tā moko, painting, drawing, relief and digital art. Ngaire is passionate about creating artwork that stimulates conversations around the significant role wāhine hold in te ao Māori. Through her work she is able to actively develop and express a stronger understanding about the importance of balance which has prompted her to intentionally unlearn decompartmentalization and reinstate a way of thinking that is uniquely Māori.
Huia and Ngaire’s recent works include ‘Whakapapa’, ‘Mana Motuhake’ , ‘Whakapono’ currently being exhibited on behalf of Hoea! Gallery and Project Space at Mangere Art Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Te Ara i Whiti
Together, Huia and Ngaire are one of our twelve exhibiting artists for Te Ara i Whiti 2021.
Huia and Ngaire present Rāwhitiroa: Eternal Enlightenment based off of a series of tangihanga experienced by the pair and their whānau. Rāwhitiroa: Eternal Enlightenment represents the life of each kahurangi through the use of an ‘infinity box’ that incorporates hei tiki and kōwhaiwhai to tell their stories.
