Te Hauhake – Harvesting (Matariki Exhibition)

‘Te Hauhake – Harvesting’
26 June – 10 July

Opening Saturday 26 June 2-4pm

This exhibition celebrates Puanga Matariki as we move forward in 2021. Ten participating artists bring their unique perspectives on Puanga Matariki – Joanne Barrett, Lindsay Antrobus Evans, Liz McAuliffe, Stacey Noel, Tira, Ngaroma Riley, Joanne Kyriazopoulos, Kristina Sokolova, Natanahira Te Pona and Brian Wright.

As part of the Creative Exchange project developed by Depot Artspace with funding support from Foundation North, this exhibition enables two distinct communities, Hokianga and Tamaki Makaurau, separated by distance, resources, and circumstances to come together to share their works, and to create new exhibiting experiences for both artists and audiences.

During Matariki the correlation between Ranginui and Papatuanuku, whenua, maunga and whetu is most visible. For our tupuna Maori, Matariki was a season to celebrate and prepare the ground for the coming year and to educate young people in the customs and practises of the whenua and ngahere.

Tohunga knew the brighter and clearer the stars appeared at this time of year, the warmer the growing season and more abundant the harvest. Contributions of produce harvested from the land were made to the gods including the god of peace and kaitiaki of crops, Rongomātāne.

In 2021 Matariki reminds us to prepare new ways to exist on the whenua, to rejuvenate it, harvest healthy kai and wellness. A time to reflect on the past and be mindful of how we live in the present to care for the future.