Latest news with #FredGraham
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
New Exhibitions Celebrate Waikato's Public Art And Pioneering Maaori Artist
Press Release – Hamilton City Council Inside Out is open to the public at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery from 16 May to 5 October 2025 and entry is free. Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi is open from 16 May to 7 September 2025 and entry is free. He Mai Mai Aroha Kia Fred Graham' E te maatanga toi ote ao Maaori takoto! Kua mutu to hikoitanga ite mata ote whenua oou Tuupuna Maatua Haere atu raa. E kore e mutu te tangi mou. Kei te tuu tonu ana oou taonga hanga nei koe ete matua hurinoa ki te Ao katoa! Kaati a tera waahi mou E moe! A celebration of Waikato's public art and a powerful painting retrospective are the two new exhibitions opening this week at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery. 'Inside Out' showcases the region's landmark sculptures through photographs alongside smaller-scale works by the same artists. The exhibition has been curated by Te Whare Taonga's Gina Matchitt and includes work by the legendary Tainui artist Fred Graham, who passed away last week aged 97. 'Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi' celebrates pioneering Maaori artist Robyn Kahukiwa, who passed away recently aged 87. The exhibition is developed and toured by The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, in partnership with Te Manawa Museum. 'We are buzzing with excitement to share these two new exhibitions,' said Liz Cotton, Director of Museum and Arts. ' Inside Out will take our visitors from the bold outdoor landmarks we all recognise from around the region, to the intimacy of a gallery setting with insights to the process of developing larger-than-life scale work. 'It's fascinating to see how an iconic public artwork, like Chris Booth and Diggeress Te Kanawa's 'Ngā Uri o Hinetuparimaunga' located at the entrance to Hamilton Gardens, relates directly to an exquisite feathered korowai and to a dramatic installation in the Museum's largest gallery space. 'As well as work by Fred Graham, Chris Booth, and Diggeress Te Kanawa, Inside Out also features the artists Dion Hitchens, Lonnie Hutchinson, Bob Jahnke, Eugene Kara, and Para Matchitt. 'We've also created the 'Inside Out Road Trip' with a custom Google Maps itinerary so that you can continue a self-lead adventure visiting the public art featured in our exhibition.' Regarding the exhibition Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi, Cotton acknowledges the poignant timing of this tribute to one of Aotearoa New Zealand's trailblazing artists: 'In light of Robyn's passing, there is a deeper resonance to Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi and the decades of her artwork on display. Her mahi has become an alternate visual rendering of Aotearoa's history, through the lens of a Maaori woman. It is an honour to share this nationwide touring exhibition with our communities here in Hamilton Kirikiriroa.' Robyn Kahukiwa has iwi affiliations to Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Konohi, and Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare. As well as powerful paintings that interweave art and politics, she also wrote and illustrated award-winning children's books, including collaborating with writer Patricia Grace. In 2020, Creative New Zealand named Kahukiwa as the Supreme Award winner at the 34th Te Waka Toi Awards in recognition of her extensive career as a painter, illustrator, sculptor and author, as well as her unyielding political and cultural commentary. Inside Out is open to the public at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery from 16 May to 5 October 2025 and entry is free. Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi is open from 16 May to 7 September 2025 and entry is free. Please note For te reo Maaori, Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery uses double vowels (uu) in place of vowels with a macron (ū) to represent a long vowel sound. This spelling approach is the preference of tangata whenua in Hamilton Kirikiriroa and Waikato iwi for te reo Maaori words. Artists' titles are shown in their original form.
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
New Exhibitions Celebrate Waikato's Public Art And Pioneering Maaori Artist
He Mai Mai Aroha Kia Fred Graham' E te maatanga toi ote ao Maaori takoto! Kua mutu to hikoitanga ite mata ote whenua oou Tuupuna Maatua Haere atu raa. E kore e mutu te tangi mou. Kei te tuu tonu ana oou taonga hanga nei koe ete matua hurinoa ki te Ao katoa! Kaati a tera waahi mou E moe! A celebration of Waikato's public art and a powerful painting retrospective are the two new exhibitions opening this week at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery. 'Inside Out' showcases the region's landmark sculptures through photographs alongside smaller-scale works by the same artists. The exhibition has been curated by Te Whare Taonga's Gina Matchitt and includes work by the legendary Tainui artist Fred Graham, who passed away last week aged 97. 'Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi' celebrates pioneering Maaori artist Robyn Kahukiwa, who passed away recently aged 87. The exhibition is developed and toured by The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, in partnership with Te Manawa Museum. 'We are buzzing with excitement to share these two new exhibitions,' said Liz Cotton, Director of Museum and Arts. ' Inside Out will take our visitors from the bold outdoor landmarks we all recognise from around the region, to the intimacy of a gallery setting with insights to the process of developing larger-than-life scale work. 'It's fascinating to see how an iconic public artwork, like Chris Booth and Diggeress Te Kanawa's 'Ngā Uri o Hinetuparimaunga' located at the entrance to Hamilton Gardens, relates directly to an exquisite feathered korowai and to a dramatic installation in the Museum's largest gallery space. 'As well as work by Fred Graham, Chris Booth, and Diggeress Te Kanawa, Inside Out also features the artists Dion Hitchens, Lonnie Hutchinson, Bob Jahnke, Eugene Kara, and Para Matchitt. 'We've also created the 'Inside Out Road Trip' with a custom Google Maps itinerary so that you can continue a self-lead adventure visiting the public art featured in our exhibition.' Regarding the exhibition Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi, Cotton acknowledges the poignant timing of this tribute to one of Aotearoa New Zealand's trailblazing artists: 'In light of Robyn's passing, there is a deeper resonance to Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi and the decades of her artwork on display. Her mahi has become an alternate visual rendering of Aotearoa's history, through the lens of a Maaori woman. It is an honour to share this nationwide touring exhibition with our communities here in Hamilton Kirikiriroa.' Robyn Kahukiwa has iwi affiliations to Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Konohi, and Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare. As well as powerful paintings that interweave art and politics, she also wrote and illustrated award-winning children's books, including collaborating with writer Patricia Grace. In 2020, Creative New Zealand named Kahukiwa as the Supreme Award winner at the 34th Te Waka Toi Awards in recognition of her extensive career as a painter, illustrator, sculptor and author, as well as her unyielding political and cultural commentary. Inside Out is open to the public at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery from 16 May to 5 October 2025 and entry is free. Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi is open from 16 May to 7 September 2025 and entry is free. Please note For te reo Maaori, Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery uses double vowels (uu) in place of vowels with a macron (ū) to represent a long vowel sound. This spelling approach is the preference of tangata whenua in Hamilton Kirikiriroa and Waikato iwi for te reo Maaori words. Artists' titles are shown in their original form.
RNZ News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Arts icon Fred Graham dies aged 96
Fred Graham's service to Māori art dates back to the 1950s. Photo: Supplied By The Big Idea The arts world is in mourning after the passing of one of the true icons of Ngā Toi Māori, Fred Graham at the age of 96. A beloved artist, mentor and educator - Graham has remained a relevant figure in the art world, just last week unveiling a major new sculpture, Te Manu Rangimaarie, at Taupiri. Graham (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura) is still a global attraction, chosen as one of the New Zealand artists to be part of this year's Venice Biennale international exhibition. It's just one of many overseas exhibitions Graham has been involved with, including the 1986 Te Ao Marama (Seven Māori Artists) exhibition that toured Australia and a 1992 United States tour showcasing contemporary Māori art. He was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 New Year's Honours list, which he was due to receive later this month, and was preparing for the opening of his latest exhibition, Fred Graham: Toi Whakaata / Reflections, at Christchurch Art Gallery (opening 31 May). As the Arts Foundation pointed out in its social media post, "Even in his final days, his legacy was growing". Graham's service to Māori art dates back to the 1950s. He was an art adviser to Māori primary schools throughout Rotorua and Northland, has been Head of the Art Department at various schools throughout the North Island and he has played a key role in inspiring and developing the next generation of artistic talent as a mentor and advocate. He was a pioneer of the Contemporary Māori Art Movement and in 1966 he was a key figure in organising one of the first exhibitions of contemporary Māori painting and sculptures in Hamilton, part of what is known as "The class of '66" with the likes of Cliff Whiting and Paratene Matchitt. Graham served on the Haerewa Māori Cultural Advisory Group at the Auckland Art Gallery for almost three decades. He has produced sculptures that are displayed in cities and towns across the motu, as well as galleries in Seattle, Vancouver and South Korea. Most recently, Graham was commissioned to create sculptures for the new Catholic College in Drury and a roundabout south of Tīrau. His artistic legacy is also a genetic one, with his Arts Laureate son Brett Graham also a renowned exponent of Māori sculpture and also part of this year's New Zealand contingent at Venice. His daughter Kathyrn is also an influential member of the creative community as a television and podcast producer, with many projects focusing on arts and culture. In his last interview with The Big Idea last year, Fred Graham spoke of his desire for his legacy to be helping to inspire the next generation of artists. "It's a pretty hard row to hoe as artists in New Zealand - whether you're involved in music, art, opera, you name it. "It's always the major question when you tell people you're an artist, they say 'What do you do for a living?'" Graham laughed. "When people like myself receive these types of recognition, it can help inspire people to stay on their path." He took great pride in the work of his children - noting in the context of his shared Venice Biennale achievement with his son: "I'm very proud of being able to share this with him - to be quite honest I'm very happy to be known as Brett Graham's father." Graham's ability was unquestionable, his motivations undeniable and his impact unbreakable. A mighty tōtara has fallen, but will not be forgotten. * This story originally appeared in The Big Idea .
