For Māori, uku (clay) is more than an artistic material. It is an ancestor. Derived from the body of Papatūānuku, uku as a material has powerful associations.
These narratives have been a major influence on Wi Taepa throughout his career. Today he is widely recognised as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading ceramic artists.
Retrospect brings together a collection of major series of works made over the past 30 years. The exhibition tracks his progression from the days of working with clay as a creative and meditative tool for wayward youth, through to the international influences of his later career.
Photography by Mark Tantrum
