Iwi Art Gallery at MAORI MARKet
There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come. The idea is for the top Maori artists across the country to exhibit their work together, in one place. The time is next weekend, right here in Wellington. And it will be powerful...
MAORI MARKet Media Resource (April 2007)
Iwi Art Gallery at MAORI MARKet
There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come. The idea is for the top Maori artists across the country to exhibit their work together, in one place. The time is next weekend, right here in Wellington. And it will be powerful.
Overseas collectors are snapping up the work of our Maori artists, and now, finally, the New Zealand public will have an opportunity to view and purchase the very best of Maori art, and that of visiting indigenous artists from Canada and America. They will also see artists across all mediums, at work.
Wellington gallery, Iwi Gallery, in Tory Street, is one of the three Maori art galleries showcasing the work of its contributing artists. According to Manager, Tia Kirk, MAORI MARKet is about exposure of Maori art to the local market. And it’s about time.
“Our artists have done extremely well in places like Vancouver – and I think it’s about time they were exposed in their own country,” she said.
“This art is seen as high value art and it is highly collected overseas. In New Zealand it is seen as a craft. The skill of our artists is just as good as the best in indigenous art in the North West (America). The work our artists are creating is of the same skill level and collectors just love it!”
The international artists who will be exhibiting at MAORI MARKet are among the best in their countries.
“It is a huge privilege for us to have their work here,” says Tia.
Iwi Gallery opened in March 2006 and has seen a steady increase in sales since then. “People get a really good feeling coming in here. They feel the authenticity.
“There is a huge demand for greenstone, for instance – because people are becoming more educated. They want to know where this piece comes from, what it means.”
90 percent of Iwi’s buyers are locals, but the gallery is located on the ‘corridor to Te Papa’ – so attracts its share of tourists as well.
“They come in and say ‘Wow! So you do have quality in Maori art’ – because on their travels all they have seen are souvenir tikis, made in China.”
“People are going to be absolutely blown away by MAORI MARKet. There will be stuff there that we don’t have. I think a lot of people who go, will not have seen this sort of work – and they’ll be able to meet the artists and see some of it being made.”
Vintage Café, in Taranaki Street (beneath Zibbibo) (owned by Tia’s partner Rob Coe-Tipene) is the official ‘AfterMARKET’ restaurant. Top Maori singers will be performing with their bands each evening of the MARKet. There the public are invited to kick back, listen to the best in Maori music and mingle with the artists.
ENDS