Honoured by 'rock star uncle'

IN THE BLOOD: Kiri Clark in front of her painting Manu (Whero), on the right, and a piece from her Uncle Ralph Hotere's Sangro series/ PICTURE/PETRINA HODGSON

A chance to display her paintings alongside her "rock star artist Uncle Ralph" is an honour for Kaitaia artist Kiri Clark.

Mrs Clark (Ngati Kahu and Ngapuhi-nui-tonu) is a niece of renowned artist Ralph Hotere, who was born in Mitimiti, North Hokianga.

When the Hotere whanau heard Mrs Clark was about to stage her first exhibition, they offered to support her by displaying two of Mr Hotere's pieces.

"The Hotere family reckon I'm the only one in our whanau that's followed painting like my uncle. It's a big honour to see his stuff hanging next to mine. I'm really proud."

A self-taught artist, Mrs Clark has been painting for almost 20 years.

"Painting is sort of spiritual for me, I can't explain it. A lot of people have said my works give them a spiritual feeling."

She is inspired by Maori design and ta moko, and said her art came into its own after she had a family.

"My Maori heritage became more important to me. If you know where you came from, it will ground you. I find expression through art."

She also draws inspiration from her whanau.

"Uncle Ralph is definitely an inspiration for me. And my children of course, they're my best critics."

It can take her a day to a week to complete a piece.

"I'm not in it for the money, I do it to make people feel good. I want to make people happy and I love to hear people's reactions about my work."

Her pieces, acrylic paintings created specifically for the exhibition, showcase Mrs Clark's deft use of colour and texture. Their simplicity and imagery connect with Mr Hotere's work.

"This whole journey has made me connect to my Hotere side even more. It's really come full circle. The stories I've learnt about Uncle Ralph through this journey are unreal."

She recalls meeting Uncle Ralph as a little girl. Her grandmother, who she grew up with, was Ralph's aunt and very close to him.

"It was never about his art though, he was just uncle Ralph."

The two Hotere pieces on display are from private collections and rarely seen in public. From his Sangro series, they pay tribute to his older brother, killed on a ridge above the Sangro River in Italy fighting with the Maori Battalion.

Mrs Clark's exhibition runs to the end of September in Te Ahu's art space.

Hone Papita Raukura "Ralph" Hotere is regarded as one of New Zealand's most important artists.

He was laid to rest last year in the urupa above Matihetihe Marae, Mitimiti.