News
Stigma of sorcery violence: Paul Wolffram & Evelyn Kunda
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.
5 Jul 2024
81 pou standing guard at Pātaka: Anton Forde
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.
1 Jul 2024
Emele Ugavule's bold vision for New Zealand's Pacific arts community
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.
26 Jun 2024
Emele Ugavule: storytelling and the vitality of contemporary Melanesian culture
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.
17 Jun 2024
Lotte Kellaway: Pātaka Registrar & kaitiaki of the art
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.
7 Jun 2024
Resident artist ready to inspire: Moe Laga
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.
4 Jun 2024
From Porirua to Venice: Ioana Gordon-Smith & the Biennale buzz
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.
31 May 2024
Ahilapalapa Rands: practising Hawaiian culture across the sea
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 ...
29 May 2024
Hawaiian diaspora in Aotearoa: Andrea Low on Ahilapalapa Rand's exhibition at Pātaka
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
9 May 2024
Pātaka Aniva arts residency announced: performer and screenwriter, Moe Laga
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.
8 May 2024
Media Release: Anton Forde exhibition opens at Pātaka in June
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.
16 Apr 2024
Sinead Overbye reviews two Pātaka exhibitions: Maioha Kara and Paraikete Threads
'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.
2 Apr 2024
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer opens autumn exhibition season
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 ...
15 Mar 2024
Lush sculptural artworks: Rebecca Stewart
Rebecca Stewart is a Christchurch teacher and artist whose lush, sculptural works feature in her Pātaka exhibition, She Held a River.
4 Mar 2024
Fashion activist wants you to Dress Up & Dance: Jeanine Clarkin
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'.
29 Feb 2024
Our new kaiako: meet artist Heidi Brickell
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.
15 Feb 2024
Aniva Residency at Pātaka opens for applications
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.
13 Feb 2024
Environment natural part of artist Susanne Kerr’s work
Wellington artist Susanne Kerr's exhibition, Remnants, is at Pātaka until 11 February. She describes her process and inspiration for her work.
15 Jan 2024
Julian Wilcox interviews Noa Blankets: Aotearoa's long history with wool and blankets
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.
2 Mar 2024
Manu Vaea: the spiritual and mundane in being fakaleitī - Tongan third gender
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 ...
19 Dec 2023
Leitī take centrestage at Pātaka
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.
1 Dec 2023
Ka Mua, Ka Muri: looking back, moving forward – Pātaka is 25
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'.
3 Oct 2023
Artist Israel Birch on 'Painting with Light'
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.
1 Sep 2023
When artist Glen Wolfgramm paints, he has the whole city to himself
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.
19 Dec 2022
Glen Wolfgramm's huge, Tongan-inspired paintings
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 ...
21 Nov 2022
