A collective of 12 Māori artists present their unique perspectives of protest at a central Auckland art exhibition. 

‘Art of Protest’ is curated by Tracey Tawhiao (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Whakatōhea) at her kaupapa Māori gallery, Tawhiao Art Salon.

“An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way; an artist says a hard thing in a simple way,” Tawhiao explains. “This exhibition expresses the hardest truth in the simplest way.”

The artists are:

Ra Gossage (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Āti Awa) – painter who creates contemporary kowhaiwhai

Thomas Kirkwood (Te Kawerau ā Maki, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Wai o Hua, Scottish) – multi-disciplinary artist who utilises paper collage techniques

Natasha Keating (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) – mixed media artist who creates illustrated pou with drawing, painting and carving

Paora Tiatoa (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa) – abstract contemporary printmaker who mainly makes inkjet and hand screen prints

Tame Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Waikato) – renowned multi-disciplinary artist, activist and cultural leader

Tracey Tawhiao (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Whakatōhea) – multi-skilled contemporary artist, curator and writer

Chantel Matthews (Ngāti Hounuku, Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Ikaunahi, Tainui) – conceptual artist, writer and curator

Shona Tawhiao (Ngāi Te Rangi, Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) – fibre artist and designer who uses traditional and contemporary mahi rāranga or weaving

Ati Teepa (Ngāi Tūhoe, Kāi Tahu) – poet and artist who uses place-based poetry painted in pigments gathered from the area he is writing about

Rakai Karaitiana (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Whakaiti, Ngāti Hikatoa, Ngāti Urakiterangi) – multi-disciplinary artist working in paint, design, photography, uku, textiles and printmaking

Hollie Tawhiao (Ngaati Tiipa) – curator, artist, published academic writer, reviewer and researcher

Emma Paki (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga) - multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter.

To follow the exhibitions at Tawhiao Art Salon and to view the catalogue, go to www.instagram.com/tawhiaoartsalon