Opening. He Pounamu Ko Āu - Opening Event
Still from He Pounamu Ko Āu
Nau Mai Haere Mai!
Please join us to celebrate the opening of Tia Barrett's exhibition 'He Pounamu Ko Āu' on Friday 23rd June at 5.30 pm in the Ō Papa Gallery.
Tia Barrett is an emerging Māori moving image and photography practitioner. Her lens-based practice focuses on celebrating her wahine Māori identity, and developing her connection to her whenua. Tia has recently been announced as a 2023 Arts Foundation Springboard winner.
“He Pounamu Ko Āu presents an immersive portrayal of the resilience and perseverance of a mana wāhine Māori. This exhibition celebrates and preserves Māori culture and traditions. Still, it also addresses contemporary issues and struggles of the current state of Māori learners in the New Zealand mainstream education system. Tia associates these struggles with the long journey it takes for Pounamu to rise to the surface of the earth's crust.” Dr Alvina Edwards