Landmarks for The Landless

Exhibition Opening Night: Friday, December 16th 6-8pm - All are welcome!

This exhibition is available to view from the 16th December until the 24th of February, Monday to Saturday from 10am - 4pm at the Homestead Galleries. Please note! We are CLOSED over the Christmas/New Year break from December 21st to January 8th. This exhibition will re-open from January 9th, Monday to Saturday from 10am - 4pm, until the 24th of February.

Featuring artists Paerau Corneal, Zena Elliott, Tessa Harris, Chris Harvey, Ngahina Hohaia, Ngaroma Riley, Melanie Tangaere Baldwin and Janine Williams.

Landmarks for the landless examines the increasing presence of pouwhenua, symbolic boundary markers, as public art installations that reflect Aotearoa’s rich heritage and position as a central Polynesian hub. These pouwhenua evoke a sense of pride among Māori, yet their significance is multifaceted, encompassing both celebration and a reminder of lost connections to ancestral lands and the vibrant cultural legacy of the past.

Through their artwork, the artists of Landmarks for the landless delve into contemporary issues such as landlessness and homelessness, stemming from the urban migration and intergenerational disconnection from ancestral territories. The works talk to the shared experience of loss and grief, reflecting a collective mourning for the underrepresentation of the Māori language in mainstream education and a strong yearning to revive the memories of their tūpuna. They also explore the concept of pouwhenua and its profound influence on their sense of place and identity.