Painters’ visions of Matariki in exhibition
Artist Tracey Underwood goes full circle with return to art
Opened in the Mapuna Kabinet Art Gallery in Foxton’s Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom on Matariki night, sculptural work by Tracey Underwood greets the visitors as they walk into the Matariki Hunga Nui art exhibition. The title of Tracey’s exhibit Te Ata¯kura refers to the red tipped dawn seen in the morning sky. A whitish wooden ocean body cradles the tinged harakeke spikes which are emitted from a square, featuring a ko¯ whaiwhai motif particular to the local Paranui Marae.
“I’ve been interested in art ever since I could pick up a pencil and draw really, however, more to the fact when I got to college basically,” Tracey Underwood said.
“Family circumstances meant that I had to take a different course in life. I didn’t pick up art again until I was in my late 30s or early 40s, and just pottered along slowly.
“It means now I can take more time with a steady approach going full circle, back to where I first started.
“Apart from weaving, I do large scale public murals, I like print press, acrylic painting and art in general, and I like to diversify and do all sorts of things. This is my first exhibit,” Underwood said.
Exhibition curator Pip Devonshire said the title of the exhibition signifies a large gathering of people and points to the work the wha¯ nau hapu and iwi have done.
“This show links Matariki as a time for the gathering of people, with paintings, sculptures, korowai, kete, tiki, and taiaha, created by artists from local hapu¯ , Toi Matarau Gallery at the Ma¯oriland Film Hub in Otaki, and
I like to diversify and do all sorts of things. This is my first exhibit. Tracey Underwood
kaupapa Ma¯ori Roopu associated with Te Awahou Foxton.
“They are artists that I have had activity with and things look positive with a few pieces of artwork sold on opening night,” she said.
Other artists in the exhibition include Karl Leonard, Huhana Smith and 14-year-old Awhina Osborne and Huhenia Paurini.
The Matariki Hunga Nui art exhibition is open during normal library hours until September 25.