April 22, 2024
Wāhine Māori win big at Venice Biennale
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A collective of four Māori women artists has won a prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale.
The installation Takapau by the Mataaho Collective – Erena Arapere-Baker, Sarah Hudson, Bridget Reweti and Terri Te Tau, was chosen by Biennale organisers for the 60th International Exhibition, Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, along with works by other Maori and Indigenous artists.
Judges said they drew on matrilinear traditions of textiles to create a luminous woven structure of straps that poetically crisscross the gallery space, casting a dazzling pattern of shadows on the walls and floor.
Its impressive scale is a feat of engineering made possible by the collective strength and creativity of the group.
Creative New Zealand representative Amanda Hereaka says the award recognises the importance and relevance of ngā toi Māori and New Zealand art on the biggest global platform.