News

Artworks by Diane Prince feature in one of four new exhibitions this summer. "Diane Prince: Activist Artist" opened on 2 November alongside "Rangirua" – two pairings of two artists, jewellers Neke Moa with Rowan Panther and mark-makers Gabrielle Amodeo and Martin Thompson – and "Taku Hoe", artists from FestPAC 2024. "Boro – Timeworn Textiles from Japan" opened on 14 December.

Senior Curator Ioana Gordon-Smith has been in Brisbane for the opening week of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at QAGOMA (the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art). As well as participating in a panel discussion, Ioana contributed the essay “Knowledge exchange: Reviving tapa through transnationalism”. Read an extract here.

Over two terms this year Josie Whelan, our Senior Education Officer Āpiha Mātauranga – Whare Taonga, has been working with a group of children from Porirua East School to explore the connections between art, artmaking and wellbeing. Josie outlines this pilot programme's aspirations and achievements, culminating in the exhibition "Toi Rama".

Speaking about her work in the exhibition "Rangirua" at Pātaka Art + Museum, artist Rowan Panther is featured on RNZ Culture 101. Listen to the interview here.

In The Post, Justin Wong speaks with artists Moses Viliamu and Jack Kirifi about their audio-visual installation "Cry of the Stolen People", part of the Pātaka exhibition "Taku Hoe".

RNZ Saturday Morning's Mihingarangi Forbes spoke with artist Diane Prince about Diane's new exhibition at Pātaka, "Diane Prince: Activist Artist". Listen to the interview here.

Being a jack-of-all-trades comes with its own frustrations, explains Andy Cummins, Exhibitions Officer at Pātaka Art + Museum. We asked him about the skills and experience required for his often very complex role.

Wellington artist Michel Tuffery’s visited Porirua’s Pātaka Art + Museum to view his friend, whānau and fellow-sculptor Anton Forde’s latest show, "Papare Eighty.one" – a formation of 81 pou exhibited for the first time inside a gallery rather than outdoors. He shares his impressions with Rachel Healy.

In The Post, writer Sinead Overbye reflects on the exhibition, "Red Wave, Blue Wave": At Pātaka, the doors leading into the space are tinted half red and half blue. Stepping through the doors is somewhat like diving into the ocean, breaking its surface. The exhibition sits in its own special world ..."

Wellington's Dr Paul Wolffram has spent the last six years in the Papua New Guinea highlands documenting the work of Evelyn Kunda and other human rights workers who help victims of sorcery accusation-related violence. Showcasing Paul’s photographs, "Sanap Wantaim – Stand Together" also features hand-woven bilum string bags created by Evelyn and members of her underground network. We spoke with Paul and Evelyn.

Waiheke Island artist Anton Forde’s exhibition "Papare Eighty.one" has just opened at Pātaka Art + Museum and runs until 13 October. We asked Anton about the massive undertaking of creating and installing 81 life-sized pou.

Emele Ugavule hosts Tok Talanoa, a symposium event opening in Porirua 22–23 June. Tyson Beckett from Stuff caught up with the Tokelauan Fijian storyteller to hear about her impressions of, and visions for, Aotearoa’s Pacific arts community. Read the article here.

RNZ Culture 101's Mark Amery speaks with Emele Ugavule about Tok Talanoa. Over the weekend of 22 to 23 June, a forum will explore the richness and diversity of creative expression of Melanesia - coinciding with a suite of exhibitions opening at Pataka that takes us from Papua New Guinea to Fiji. Listen to the interview here.

Lotte Kellaway takes care of the Pātaka Collection and the many artworks that travel to and from Pātaka each year for our exhibition programme. We asked her what it means to be the Pātaka Registrar.

Moe Laga, an interdisciplinary artist from Tāmaki Makaurau whose practice includes movement, activation and storytelling, has been selected as the Aniva Arts resident for 2024 based at Pātaka Art + Museum in Porirua. The Post asked her some questions to coincide with her residency.

Ioana Gordon-Smith, Pātaka Art Museum’s lead curator, is just back from a whirlwind tour to the world’s most prestigious and longest-running international art exhibition, the Venice Biennale. And if the art and parties were not enough, the experience was amplified by New Zealand artists Mataaho Collective winning the Golden Lion for the Best Participant with their installation, "Takapau". Ioana reflects on the experience of being there.

Mark Amery interviews artist Ahilapalapa Rands on RNZ's Culture 101 about Ahi's exhibition at Pātaka, "Across the Sea", exploring connections across the Pacific Ocean to Hawai'i. Listen here ...

Artist Ahilapalapa Rands’ exhibition "Across the Sea" explores connections to her ancestral home of Hawai‘i. Dr Andrea Low, Associate Curator, Contemporary World at Auckland Museum and Ahilapalapa’s whanau, backgrounds the show in this edited excerpt from her essay

South Auckland interdisciplinary artist Moe Laga (she/they) has been selected as the third annual Aniva Arts Residency, a partnership between Pātaka Art+Museum and Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa. The paid residency is offered to a Pacific artist or practitioner who identifies as LGBTQIA+/MVPFAFF.

A new installation by Waiheke Island artist Anton Forde opens at Pātaka Art + Museum this winter, 22 June–13 October. "Papare Eighty.one" features 81 carved, wooden contemporary pou that will appear as sentinels in the gallery – a call for collective action in the fight to safeguard our natural environment.

Te Hīkoi Toi: Exploring Indigenous geometries by Sinead Overbye profiles two recent exhibitions at Pātaka Art + Museum, "In Good Relation" by Maioha Kara and "Paraikete Threads".

Director Ana Sciasscia was joined by MP Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and other VIPs to open three exhibitions – Ahilapalapa Rand's Across the Sea, Maioha Kara's In Good Relation and Paraikete Threads. Mark Tantrum's images captured the occasion ...

Rebecca Stewart is a Christchurch teacher and artist whose lush, sculptural works feature in her Pātaka exhibition, "She Held a River".

Designer Jeanine Clarkin is a champion of indigenous Māori fashion. Her garments feature alongside other contemporary Māori artists – Noa Blanket Co and Mataaho Collective – in the Pātaka exhibition "Paraikete Threads", which opens with a special event, Dress Up and Dance with Jeanine Clarkin.

One of our two educators, Heidi Brickell (Te Hika o Papauma, Rangitāne, Ngāi Tara, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Apakura), is also an artist. We asked Heidi about her move south to join the Pātaka team and how she balances her work as an artist with the role of kaioko.

Applications are now open for the 2024 Aniva Artist in Residency programme, a partnership between Pātaka Art+Museum and Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa. The paid residency is offered to a Pacific artist or practitioner who identifies as LGBTQIA+/MVPFAFF.

Wellington artist Susanne Kerr's exhibition, "Remnants", is at Pātaka until 11 February. She describes her process and inspiration for her work.

For RNZ's Māpuna, Julian Wilcox speaks with Whakaawa and Josh Te Kani about "Paraikete Threads", a Pātaka exhibition that features works from their business, Noa Blanket Co. Listen to the interview here.

Mark Amery interviews artist Manuha‘apai Vaeatangitau (also known as Manu Vaea) on RNZ's Culture 101 about Manu's solo exhibition at Pātaka, "Koe Tau’atāina o e Leitī | The Freedom/Emancipation of the Leitī". Listen to it here ...

Curator Ioana Gordon-Smith discusses "Koe Tau’atāina o e Leitī | The Freedom/Emancipation of the Leitī", a solo exhibition by Manuha‘apai Vaeatangitau (also known as Manu Vaea). Manu is the 2023 Aniva Arts Resident and her exhibition reinserts gender diversity into a long Tongan history.

Pātaka is celebrating 25 years with a month of birthday events. Director Ana Sciascia reflects on our 'brief yet rich history that has seen Pātaka become a vibrant hub of creativity, culture and connection'.

A Q&A with artist Israel Tangaroa Birch (Ngā Puhi, Ngāi Tawake, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ra kaipaaka) whose video work Rerenga Wairua features in "Naadohbii: To Draw Water" at Pātaka.

Grant Smithies interviews Glen Wolfgramm for Sunday Magazine about his exhibition "A‘eva tokotaka he Pasifiki: Solo across the Pacific" at Pātaka. Read the story here.

Lynn Freeman interviews artist Glen Wolfgramm on RNZ's Standing Room Only about Glen's solo exhibition at Pātaka, "A'eva tokotaha e Pasifiki Solo across the Pacific". Listen to it here ...