Ngaahina Hohaia

Ngaahina Hohaia
Born1975
NationalityNew Zealand
MovementContemporary Māori Art

Ngaahina Hohaia (born 1975) is a visual artist and weaver of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Moeahu, Ngāti Haupoto and Greek descent from Parihaka, New Zealand.[1]

Biography

Hohaia has artistic influences from her grandmothers. Her Māori grandmother was a weaver and Greek grandmother was a painter.[2]

Ngaahina gained a Masters in Māori Visual Arts from Toioho ki Āpiti in 2009 and in 2010 received the Arts Foundation of New Zealand New Generation Award.[3][2] In 2007 Hohaia received the Te Waka Toi Ngā Karapihi award.

Work

Her work often draws from Parihaka history and has been exhibited nationally and internationally.[4] Her contemporary art work uses traditional fibres combined with metals and silks.[2] Items she has created include jewellery and adornment pieces, sculpture and large-scale multimedia installations.[3]

Wellington's City Gallery opened a new gallery space Roderick and Gillian Deane Gallery for Maori and Pacific Art in 2009 with a large installation by Hohaia made up of over 500 poi created from natural fibre including woolen blankets. The work honours the messages of peace from Parihaka leaders Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi.[5][6]

Exhibitions

Personal

Hundreds of people gathered at Ōwairaka mountain in Auckland in 2020 in solidarity for Hohaia after she made a complaint with the New Zealand police about a racial attack on her. Māori leaders spoke out against the decision made by the police not to prosecute.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Artists poi reflect on pain of Parihaka". City Gallery Wellington. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Hakaraia, Libby; Waata Urlich, Colleen, eds. (2008). Te kāhui o Matariki : contemporary Māori art for Matariki. Urlich, Colleen Waata, 1939-2015. North Shore City, N.Z.: Raupo. ISBN 978-0-14-300934-4. OCLC 213382039.
  3. ^ a b "Ngaahina Hohaia". The Arts Foundation, New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "Artist in residence to explain her influences". Taranaki Daily Times. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2016 – via Stuff.co.nz.
  5. ^ "Parihaka poi opens new Deane Gallery". The Big Idea. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Artist in residence to explain her influences". Stuff. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Ngahina Hohaia". Pātaka Art + Museum. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  8. ^ Borell, Nigel. "Manawa Wera". Pbjectspace. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Ngahina Hohaia". City Gallery Wellington. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  10. ^ "City Gallery Wgtn Opening: On The Pain of Parihaka | Scoop News". Scoop. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  11. ^ Tyson, Jessica. "Call for police to review alleged racial attack on Ngahina Hohaia". Māori Television. Retrieved 6 January 2021.


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