'I have been working closely with my teina Rongomai Grbic-Hoskins (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngātiwai) since February, teaching her the full process of making aute (Māori bark cloth)—from harvesting, scraping, beating, and fermenting to re-beating, and eventually adornment with earth pigments.'
'We called this apprenticeship programme Te Uru Aute, referring to a grove of aute plants, and this show presents the outcomes of this important time in wānanga. Manu Aute: Rere Runga Hau signals a transition in my practice as I begin to explore manu aute, kites made from aute, and the expansive possibilities of working collaboratively with Rongomai. Kites symbolise joy and leisure time but can also bring foreboding warnings. I think the duality of these signs reflects the double-edged needs of our current social climate. I think we need to rest more and escape in extreme joy, but we also need to confront the climate emergency. One way we can do this is by recognising Indigenous knowledge and learning how to be good tangata Tiriti.'
