Paerau Corneal

"Two constants in my work are sculptural works in clay and more structural forms in fibre. Ongoing themes involve te uha, the female element - and consequently mana wahine - and more relevant depictions of Maori women today."

Paerau Corneal

Tribal affilations: Ngati Tuwharetoa me Te Ati Haunui a Paparangi.

Born in Rotorua in 1961, Paerau studied at Waiariki Polytechnic, graduating with a Diploma in Craft Design in 1990.

She is a member of Nga Kaihanga Uku, the collective of Maori clayworkers and Nga Wahine Kai Whakairo, the National Maori Women's Carving Roopu.

"Two constants in my work are sculptural works in clay and more structural forms in fibre. Ongoing themes involve te uha, the female element and consequently mana wahine, concept or reality: beyond the puhi complex and more relevant depictions of Maori women today."

Recent developments include large outdoor sculptures in clay (currently on exhibition at Masterworks Gallery, Auckland) and depictions of atua wahine.

Selected Exhibitions

• 1999 Courtyard Sculptures, Masterworks, Auckland
• 1999 Nga Korero Aoteatea, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt
• 1998 Uku! Uku! Uku! International Festival of the Arts, Wellington
• 1997 Whakatu in your eyes, Bishop Suter, Nelson
• 1996 Mentors 1 Nga Tipuranga, Rotorua Bathhouse, Rotorua
• 1996 Te Uha, Solo exhibition. Te Taumata Gallery, Auckland
• 1996 Patua, City Gallery, Wellington
• 1996 Toi Maunga Toi Moana, Tuwharetoa Arts Festival, Taupo
• 1995 Matau, Te Atinga, Rotorua District Council, Rotorua
• 1994 Kurawaka, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt
• 1994 Little Jewels, Amba, Wellington
• 1993 No Distractions, Bathhouse, Rotorua
• 1993 Contemporary Maori Artists, Waitangi, Bay of Islands
• 1992 Contemporary Maori Art, Rarotonga
• 1992 I am / Ko Ahau, Dunedin City Art Gallery, Dunedin;
• 1992 Te Taumata, Auckland
• 1992 Masterworks, Auckland
• 1992 Treasures of the Underworld, Spain
• 1991 Home Made Home, City Gallery, Wellington

Symposium / Wananga

• 1996 Nga Kaihanga Uku, International Festival of the Arts, Wellington
• 1996 Te Roopu o Nga Wahine Kai Whakairo, Raglan, Waikato
• 1996 Te Roopu o Nga Wahine Kai Whakairo, Waitomo, Waikato
• 1995 Indigenous Artists Hui, Apumoana Marae, Rotorua

Publications / Catalogues

• 1996: 100 NZ Craft Artists
• 1997: Mataora
• 1992: Kurawaka
• 1993: Treasures of the Underworld
• 1992: Spiral 7