She also designed a mangopare to represent strength which she painted in purples.
“I thought that to be part of an event like the FIFA World Cup you have to be pretty strong,” she said.
Mr G gave Te Waiotu some instruction on how to use the spray cans as she’d never used them before and then she was left to work alongside him.
“My wife and I are extremely proud of Te Waiotu, he ringatoi matarau ia (she’s a multidisciplinary artist), she also has a huge passion, work ethic and heart. It was a complete honour and joy for us to work with her,” Mr G said.
Te Waiotu met Mr G last year when he travelled to Tokomaru Bay as part of his Tumanako project, which was all about injecting hope into small towns through mahi toi (art).
“He came to Toko and I met him while he was painting a mural on the Four Square there. He then came and did some art on some containers at our place.”
Te Waiotu said she has always loved art, especially painting and sculpture.
She has started to carve surfboards as art pieces and is also doing animation.
She attendes Te Kura — The Correspondence School and spends time at Taiki E where she has mentors there who have been instrumental in her journey as an artist and entrepreneur.
The Correspondence School suits her as it allows her to focus on her two passions of art and surfing. It also gives her some flexibility.
“It means I am able to take opportunities like this which really take up a lot of my energy,” she says.
Mr G is recognised internationally for his highly rendered large-scale, spray-painted portraits.
He has created six large-scale murals around the country with the help of young female artists from small town communities to celebrate the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
“This kaupapa is all about giving our rangatahi from our Tumanako project an opportunity to be part of the world’s biggest women’s sporting event and contribute to the design and painting of the murals that focus on celebrating and supporting our inspirational wahine @nzfootballferns.
