Artist inspired by faces of indigenous women

ARTIST: Tanya Leef has an exhibition at Moko on Hinemoa St.PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

It took Rotorua charcoal portraiture artist Tanya Leef just on a year to complete her Huia Kaimanawa series.

The results are now on display at Moko 101 on Hinemoa St.

Ms Leef said she has been interested in art since a young age, but started the journey to progress her passion around six years ago.

"I started at Waiariki, and went to Level 7. Then I went through to Whitecliffe but decided it wasn't for me. For me, this was about learning about myself, and learning about myself as a Maori woman. So I switched to Te Wananga. Now I'm just finishing my fine arts degree."

Ms Leef said the 11 portraits, which showcased women with moko kauae (the traditional Maori chin tattoo), were inspired by a smaller collection, which also hung in the studio.

"This body of work was inspired by a private collection I completed last year. They came from a book, Michael King's Moko so they aren't something I've ever shared publicly. In between my study I would do these just to keep me going," she said.

"But the women in this body of work, I've talked to and met, and hear the story behind their kauae. I'm inspired by the faces of indigenous women, especially Maori women. Their stories are etched into their faces. It's in their eyes."

Ms Leef said each kauae told a story of ancestry and whakapapa (genealogy).

"Some may have the same as their grandmother and their great-grandmother. For some it's a tradition, for others it's about taking them back to their tipuna (ancestors)."

Ta Moko artist Hohua Mohi said he was glad to see moko being more widely accepted and normalised in today's society.

"Moko tell the story of the individual using the motif handed down to us by our ancestors, so it is very important," he said.

"Moko has a very important part to play in any mahi toi (artwork). Not only moko, but you can see Maori mahi toi being a normality in art circles now.

"Not so long ago you would struggle to find many places promoting Maori art. But look at the calibre of art to peruse now.

"It would do New Zealand a great justice to continue to promote our mahi toi as much as they promote other any other toi in New Zealand."

Kiwi Coffin Club's Katie Williams said they feel privileged to have Ms Leef paint some of their coffins.

"We, at the Coffin Club, so appreciate Tanya's help and artistry. She comes and does paintings on coffins for those who want a cultural theme.

"This certainly helps the future occupier to realise a dream of depicting who they are and what means most to them."

Huia Kaimanawa will be on display until December 6.

Other Te Wananga o Aotearoa arts students also have their work on display in the Ahua exhibition on Hinemoa St.

Meanwhile, Rotorua Museum recently opened Kuia Mau Moko - an exhibition of 29 black and white photographs of Maori kuia who wore the indelible legacy of 'moko kauae'.