Artist Talk
Ross Hemera on Horotea Ngā Tapuae i te Awa
Thursday 3 August | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Hear from Ngāi Tahu ringatoi Ross Hemera on his newly commissioned artwork for Dunedin Public Art Gallery titled Horotea Ngā Tapuae i te Awa.
You might have noticed Ross Hemera working on this new commission in the gallery over the past couple of weeks. If you’re curious about what he’s been working on, come in and listen.
In this talk Hemera will discuss the whakapapa and kōrero behind Horotea Ngā Tapuae i te Awa, ahead of it’s completion later this month.
Ross Hemera is Poutokomanawa of Paemanu: a collective of Ngai Tahu contemporary visual artists, and held the position of Professor of Māori Art and Design, at the College of Creative Arts, Massey University before retiring in 2015. Under the kaupapa of two Paemanu led exhibitions at DPAG - Hurahia ana kā Whetū and Paemanu: Tauraka Toi Hemera created the artwork Kua hoki mai ngā Karae (2021). Horotea Ngā Tapuae i te Awa continues and expands the narrative of Kua hoki mai ngā Karae. As with all his creative work Ross draws inspiration from te ana whakairo (southern Māori rock art). His mahi toi practice follows the cultural concepts of taonga tuku iho to communicate an appreciation and connection to whakapapa on gallery walls.
FREE 5.30pm Thursday 3 August in the DPAG Auditorium
[image: Ross Hemera Kua hoki mai ngā Karae 2021 (detail). Courtesy of the artist]