Toitū Te Whenua, Toitū Te Moana, Toitū Te Tangata

Māori contemporary artist Hemi Macgregor has included a kete made by his late mother, Marata, in his exhibition of new works which has opened at Mahara Gallery.

The kete is both a tribute to his mother and a recognition of the importance in his work of whanau and friends.

Toitū Te Whenua, Toitū Te Moana, Toitū Te Tangata, is a new body of work developed over the past five years, which had its origins in him observing the changing of the seasons. Hemi Macgregor’s paintings aim to inspire viewers to reflect on our interconnectedness with the sky, the earth, the oceans and rivers, and to begin to re-establish our relationship with the atua (Māori spiritual ancestors) and their offspring. He is based on the Kāpiti Coast and teaches at Massey University College of Fine Arts Whiti o Rehua, Wellington. His work is so highly regarded he was invited to exhibit in Toi Tū Toi Ora, the largest ever exhibition staged by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. 

Hemi Macgregor will speak, in conversation with Prof Huhana Smith, in his exhibition in an Artist's Floor-talk, Saturday 10 April at 2:30pm. Free entry. Nau mai, haere mai.