Cora-Allan: Encountering Aotearoa
Coming this month to Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū is a major body of new work that reflects on histories of Pacific, Māori, and European exploration and navigation.
In this touring exhibition, artist Cora-Allan (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tumutumu, Niue – Liku, Alofi) uses whenua (earth) pigment, hiapo (barkcloth from Niue) and other media to represent her recent two-week sea voyage from the bottom of Te Waipounamu to Te Tai Tokerau. On the journey, she painted the changing shapes and views of the whenua (land) of Aotearoa from the perspective of the moana (sea).
Accompanying Cora-Allan on her expedition was her father, Kelly Lafaiki (Niue – Liku and Alofi), who documented the passage through written notes and sketches in a travel journal. Their interactions, captured on film by artist Emily Parr (Ngāi Te Rangi, Moana, Pākehā), are represented by two moving-image works that will sit alongside the exhibition.
Carve out time to visit this exhibition which will be at Christchurch Art Gallery from 13 April – 25 August 2024. To enrich your understanding of the works, attend the kōrero between Cora-Allan and Te Papa curator mātauranga Māori Isaac Te Awa at 1 pm on 13 April 2024, at the Christchurch Art Gallery.
MAIN IMAGE: Ko ao, ko ao, ko Aotearoa, INSERT: Ōtautahi (Christchurch)
