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National | Arts

Exhibition to showcase work by Māori and Pacific artists

An exhibition of artwork produced by local Māori and Pasifika artists at the University of Waikato's 'Art Hui' will open in Hamilton tonight.

Artists from Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Tonga are showing their work at the PUTAHI exhibition. The exhibitors include local Māori artists and students from Wananga across Aotearoa.

Te Kura Toi Tangata Faculty of Education lecturer, Donn Ratana says connecting with artists from across the Pacific means skills, knowledge, and culture can be shared.

"The relationship between Pacific nations is clear; language, ideas and images are similar. The exhibition is focused on new ways of finding form in contemporary Maori Pacifica art. This can be seen through artists' painting, printmaking, photography, jewellery, ta moko (tattoo), mixed media and uku (clay).

It's a great opportunity for Waikato locals to see a diverse range of talented, international artists all in one place, something quite different," says Ratana.

The exhibition will start at 5pm and open from Monday to Friday (11am-2pm) until January 14.