Ngapine Tamihana Te Ao
A successful painter, Ngapine now works independently as an artist, writer and curator.
Ngapine Tamihana Te Ao is of Ngati Raukawa, Ngaiterangi, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Rongowhakaata descent.
Ngapine is an artist, academic and art historian and currently resides in the Christchurch seaside suburb of Sumner on Banks Peninsula. She paints looking out to the Pacific horizon and the landmark, Rapanui (Shag Rock).
Ngapine majored in art at Wellington Teachers' College and for two years (1972-73) chaired the Student Arts Council. Significant works of art were purchased for the College's collection at this time. After graduating she taught in various North Island primary schools until the mid-1980s when she studied photography at Elam School of Fine Arts.
Joining the Maori Artists and Writers Society in 1975, marked the beginning of a long association with Maori arts collectives. She was committed to establishing a national Maori women's artist collective, which was inaugurated in 1997. The 17 artists that formed the collective chose to take the name 'Kauwae' - which is the facial moko worn by women.
Up until 1997, Ngapine taught Art at Palmerston North College of Education, Art History at Massey University and established Maori Art History at the School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury.
Publications she wrote for in this period included:
- "Ta Apirana: a historical perspective", "Ta Apirana: Taonga Tuku" and "Patua", Wellington City Art Gallery
- "Nga Mahi o te aka o Tuwhenua", Canterbury Museum
- "Maori Vision and the Imperialist Gaze" in ed. Hooper-Greenhill, Eileen.
- "Colonialism and the Object", Routledge, 1998.
She also wrote articles and reviews for Art New Zealand.
Ngapine now works independently as an artist, writer and curator, most recently curating and writing "Whaia ra Tu Tangata" for the Suter's centennial exhibition.
Ngapine has exhibited in group shows since 1982 and before becoming involved in teaching, she exhibited regular solo shows at the French Art Gallery in Ponsonby, Te Taumata Gallery in Auckland and at the Manawatu Art Gallery in Palmerston North. Her work is held in public institutions and in private collections in the United States and Australia.
Ngapine has represented Te Waka Toi in cultural exchanges in the United States and in New Zealand. She has been commissioned by the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Ministry of Health and Department of Labour.
Selected exhibitions
- 1998, 2000 "Kauwae", Tairawhiti museum
- 1994 "Aoraki/Hikurangi", McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch
- 1993 "Te Ao", Workshop and exhibition with Native American artists, page 90, Porirua
- 1991 "Art and Organised Labour" (commissioned photographs), Wellington City Art Gallery
- 1990 "Three Maori Artists" McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch
- 1988 "Te Aho Wairua", Dowse Art Gallery, Lower Hutt
- 1987 "Maori Art Today" Auckland Museum
- 1986 "Karanga Karanga", Wellington City Art Gallery