Installation view. Photo: Cheska Brown
Installation view. Photo: Cheska Brown
Installation view. Photo: Cheska Brown
Installation view. Photo: Cheska Brown
Installation view. Photo: Cheska Brown
Installation view. Photo: Cheska Brown
Raukura Turei, Untitled, 2023. Image courtesy of the artist.
Using whenua from places connected to her whakapapa, Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Raukura Turei (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngā Rauru Kītahi) creates artworks related to her tīpuna (ancestors).
This exhibition brings together new works alongside exploratory pieces grounded in the landscapes where the pigments were harvested including Maraetai, Tīkapakapa Moana on the East coast and Paruroa in Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa on the West coast.
The title of this exhibition comes from the largest work made up of 4 painted panels and relates to a Hauraki iwi whakataukī (saying). 'Takoto ai te marino horahia i waho rā' translates to ‘Behold! the ocean calm that spreads outside’ and references the calm waters over Tīkapakapa Moana where the aumoana (blue clay) Turei uses in her works has been collected.
Turei is a multi-disciplinary artist, architect, and designer who uses natural materials such as aumoana and onepū, (black iron sands) collected from Papatūānuku. Her research into atua wāhine (gods) and her journey in reconnecting with her whakapapa led her to painting as a tool to connect to her tīpuna.
Her artwork has been exhibited throughout New Zealand including Toi Moroki - CoCA, Ōtautahi Christchurch; Objectspace, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland; Te Pātaka Toi - The Adam Art Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington; Bartley and Co, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and the Tokyo Art Fair, 2019.