Forrester Gallery Presents WaiTĀha: the Art of Peace

Published on 14 June 2022

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The Forrester Gallery is excited to announce its latest exhibition - WaiTĀha: the Art of Peace.

This show shares Waitaha art and film and features a range of contemporary art made by Waitaha whānau and friends. This exhibit showcases several films and multiple artworks including paintings, photography, music, sculptures, jewellery and taoka pūoro (traditional musical instruments). This exhibit celebrates Waitahataka, the unique and enduring peace-based culture of Waitaha, the First Nations People who have called Te Waipounamu home for over a millennium.

The inspiration for WaiTĀha: The Art of Peace stems from retracing the ancestral footsteps of Te Maihāroa and his people on Te Heke ki Te Ao Mārama (1877-79), the migration through the Waitaki Valley some 145 years ago. 

This exhibition commemorates Te Heke as the first passive resistance movement in Te Wāhipounamu led by the tohuka and prophet Te Maihāroa (1800-1886).  Just as Te Maihāroa stood for Mana Māori, the preservation of Waitaha ancestral whenua, culture and language, this exhibit makes a contribution to Waitahataka through the art and films that support these ancestral connections. 

Curators Kelli Te Maihāroa and Rua Pick have brought together the work of 20 artists from around Te Waipounamu, showcasing karaka, taoka puoro, ancestral landscapes, oil and acrylic paintings, carvings, ceramics, jewellery, photographs and mixed media. Film works are also taking a central place in this exhibition, including award winning short films by Ramonda Te Maihāroa.

The team at the Forrester Gallery have worked with Waitaha in realising this exhibition.

WaiTĀha: the Art of Peace is open to the public until 4th September 2022. Free entry.