Madison Kelly
Tauraka Toi Artist Profile
15 February 2022
This week, we’re excited to highlight the recent practice of Madison Kelly (Kāi tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Pākehā), whose work features in the exhibition Paemanu: Tauraka Toi - A landing place.An emerging artist based in Ōtepoti, Madison has recently been spending her time at the Caselberg Cottage in Broad Bay as the Blue Oyster Art Project Space 2022 Summer Resident. While there, she has been continuing her ongoing research exploring the entanglement of ecology and whakapapa.This area of enquiry informs Tūtakitaka, an installation developed with fellow artist Mya Morrison Middleton for Tauraka Toi. Bringing a tōtara branch into conversation with a tohorā rara (whale rib), harakeke weaving, and a soundscape featuring the processing of bark and whitau/harakeke fibre, Tūtakitaka explores ways of knowing, communicating and navigating the world with care and in communion.Congratulations Madison and stay tuned for her solo exhibition – developed out of her residency – at Blue Oyster towards the end of this year.