Hemi Macgregor draws on geometric structures, patterns and processes in the natural world to explore our relationship with sky, water, earth and seasons.
In this solo exhibition, Hemi Macgregor explores the spiritual elements that connect humans to the external worlds of te taiao, te taimoana, te taiwhenua and into tātai tuarangi (the cosmos). Working across painting, sculpture and installation, Macgregor draws on geometric structures, patterns and processes found in raranga, tukutuku and taniko. Pūrākau are referenced throughout the exhibition to reflect our connection with the sky, water, earth, and seasons.
Waiora acknowledges Tane Te Waiora and the role of the environment in contributing to human wellness, which is implicitly linked to kaitiakitanga. Through the intersection of whakapapa, mātauranga, pūrākau and te reo me o na tikanga, Waiora identifies a series of genealogical webs that traverse time and space, acknowledging how te mana o nga atua shapes te ao marama.
Although grounded in the celebration of the enduring mana of the atua, Waiora also responds to the effects of industrialisation and colonisation on the natural environment. Today, we desperately search for approaches that enable sustainable ecological and economic systems. It is here where Māori cultural beliefs and practices, like many Indigenous cultures, understand the universe as a holistic interconnected system where nothing exists in isolation. This is the grounding principle of kaitiakitanga where we see that all things must be understood as relevant to their relationships and connections.
Image: Hemi Macgregor, Te Pōtangotango, (detail), 2022, paint and timber. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Cheska Brown.
ARTIST BIO: Hemi Macgregor (Ngāti Rākaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe) is a highly respected artist and educator, who graduated from the prestigious Māori Visual Arts programme at Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, Massey University in Palmerston North. He is based on the Kāpiti Coast and is an Associate Professor at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s Major, Mātauranga Toi Māori. Waiora was recently shown at Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga Hastings Art Gallery to critical acclaim.
Macgregor's selected recent exhibitions include Matarau, with guest curator Shannon Te Ao, City Gallery Wellington, 2021-2022; Toitū Te Whenua, Toitū Te Moana, Toitū Te Tangata, Mahara Gallery, 2021; and Toi Tū, Toi Ora contemporary Māori Art, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2020-2021.
