Rau Toi o Parininihi ki Waitōtara: Kua whakatū te kaporeihana i tētehi kaupapa mahi toi hei whakanui i tō rātou huringatau 50
- Phoenix Manley-Green
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The exhibition Rau Toi, currently hosted at Te Ramanui o Ruaputahanga, marks a significant milestone in the history of the Parininihi ki Waitōtara Incorporation, celebrating its 50th anniversary through the diverse creative expressions of nine Taranaki artists.
Bonita Bigham, the curator of Rau Toi, emphasizes that the exhibition is a powerful testament to the continuity and creativity of the local community.
Reflecting on the exhibition’s core purpose, Bigham notes, "This exhibition, Rau Toi, is a manifestation of the creativity that exists within Taranaki whānui, particularly in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Parininihi ki Waitōtara Incorporation's establishment".
Beyond celebrating the history of the incorporation, the exhibition also serves as an important bridge for the next generation.
Bigham underscores the duty of passing on these connections, stating, "The important thing for all our whanunga and all our whānau whānui and especially our rangatahi to know is that however they choose to manifest their connection to their whakapapa, to our whenua, to their tupuna is critical and that, that's the gift that they are given".
For artists like Kim Kahu, Rau Toi offers a deeply personal connection to the past.
Kahu describes the humility of contributing to the celebration, noting, "Not knowing a lot about who and what was part of the PKW and seeing up on the wall, I see my kuia's name up there. So it just, it's quite humbling to be part of the 50th celebrations in the toi space"
Central to Kahu’s practice is the importance of grounding contemporary art in traditional knowledge and ancestral lineage.
Explaining this necessity, Kahu adds, "Whakapapa’s really important and it's also important to be mindful of where our mahi toi came from, even though we're bringing it into a more contemporary context, it's still important to understand where all of those techniques and processes came from and acknowledging our tūpuna in that way".
Rau Toi will remain open to the public until August 8, offering a space to explore the deep artistic and historical threads connecting the people of Taranaki to their whenua.
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