April 11, 2014
Witehira papers the town Maori
A Wellington artist is trying to give his environment a more Maori look.
Johnson Witehira’s new exhibition Land of Tara, based on an account by Elsdon Best of Maori migration into the region, opened yesterday in the light boxes on Courtenay Place.
Witehira, from Tamahaki, Nga Puhi, and Ngati Haua, says it’s good to have a presence in the street.
He’s also looking at the insides of homes, and has started a Maori wallpaper project.
"Growing up I felt like something was missing from our house , the world that we lived in. This wallpaper may not look like kowhaiwhai, if its in your kitchen it may be made up of koura. Or if its a childrens room you may have a story that tells the story of Rangi and Papa. It's an interesting way of getting our beautiful artforms that we have back in to our lives", he says.
Johnson Witehira’s Land of Tara lightboxes will be on display until August.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH JOHNSON WITEHIRA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTcxMDM=
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