One recent afternoon, I wanted to be fully engaged in something fun and lively, which, for me, can be art. As I wandered down the road, one of the joys of living on the outskirts of the CBD is how near I am to events and the newly revamped Toi Tauranga Art Gallery.
On arrival at the new Masonic Park, where the gallery’s entrance is now situated, I’m greeted by the Mauri Stones ā a large piece of pounamu and two pieces of obsidian from TuhÅ«a (Mayor Island), resting in water. It certainly gives a visitor a warm invitation to enter, reflect on themselves and the whenua (the land), and to connect.
“Whakairo”
by Kereama Taepa
Though, to be honest, I did struggle with the meaning of this ground-floor exhibition. Then, after reading and viewing the visual on the screen, and engaging once again with the bright pink and green walls, I could reasonably understand what was going on in it’s 3D complexity.
This epic augmented reality experience explores the origins of Maori carving.
Collaborative exhibition
by indigenous artists Tyrone Te Waa, from Aotearoa, and Matthew Harris, from Australia
From the full-scale, colourful walls on arrival, I headed around the corner to works that explore place, ancestry and spiritual undercurrents through material, scent and form, and the room’s tone encourages you to slow down. Which it did.
Another slice of the visual smorgasbord
Up a flight of stairs, and I became really engaged with a variety of differing art forms that were on display. I can’t possibly include everything I saw, so I will focus on a few exhibits that held my attention the longest.
Lanu Mamanu – Colourful Patterns
– Pusi Urale & Vaimaila Urale (Samoa)
Together, these artists playfully and meaningfully weave a language of patterns and Samoan symbols into the canvases of paint, wood and fabric, as women living and adapting immersively to the cultural knowledges of past and present. These artists speak to a sense of place that isnāt physically fixed or bound to traditional mediums, but rather acts as a portal to an expansive homeland that touches peopleās hearts, minds, and spirits.
Land of my Ancestors
– Darcy Nicholas
“For me, colour is like music, and the drawn lines of an artwork are the rhythms of that music”.
Darcy Nicholas has a voice that quietly demands to be heard, and well worth the time to watch the video and absorb his korero before the visual, in which his art communicates so brilliantly.
“For the future of our children, we need to protect the Earth Mother and Sky Father. This concern is constantly illustrated in my art” –
His paintings, carvings and drawings span decades and hold a quiet authority. Nicholasās work grounds the entire gallery, offering a sense of completeness as I venture downstairs, thinking how much lighter in mood and fully engaged in the glow of enjoying being surrounded by art.
There were more artists I enjoyed discovering, and I’ll include them in another post, as I’m sure to revisit the gallery before the exhibitions finish.
Life at No. 22 
What a fascinating exhibit! You are lucky to have that gallery so close.
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Janis, we are fortunate to have access to the gallery and more around the city centre.
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Iām not sure Iād have got much from the augmented reality exhibit, but the pictures you show are gorgeous, so colourful and lively.
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It was thought provoking to say the least. Made the entrance very bright and cheerful. I’m sure many people appreciated the meaning behind the artform.
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It’s good to immerse yourself in a gallery, Suzanne. New ways of looking at the world- or even old ones, reinterpreted xx
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You’re right, Jo, it is good to immerse ourselves in a gallery. I’ve really missed viewing art and it has always been a priority for us to see as many galleries or museums when travelling.
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Looks like a wonderful exhibition Suzanne. Lots of colour, texture and thought provoking art. A place I could happily immerse myself in for hours. Thanks for sharing!
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Miriam, I am sure you would’ve found it interesting. They did well to collaborate with other cultures and to create an individual space for all of them.
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I enjoyed seeing the colorful works and learning a bit about the symbolism behind them.
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Really pleased you enjoyed it, Eilene.
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Thatās a quality museum. A lot of thought went into deciding which artists to present, and how to display their works.
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Neil, I think art in it’s many forms is a positive way to educate and create curiosity about a culture.
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Art is subjective but when we see art we enjoy looking at it can be very uplifting can’t it Suzanne.
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It certainly can be uplifting when we’re absorbed in something we enjoy, Malc.
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A splendid cultural experience well conveyed
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Thanks very much, Derrick.
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Pleased to see the art gallery is now open. It is always a must visit place for me. What interesting and diverse exhibits. I could spend hours in there.
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It will be there and hopefully more art to enjoy when you return.
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Plenty of art there to get the creative juices flowing, Suz. Thanks for the inspiration… Melx
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You’re welcome, Mel xx
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