Thursday 7 December 2023 - Wednesday 24 January 2024

Hinetitama aims to amplify the recognition of Māori Atua Wāhine (female deities), delving into the lineage and impact of influential Māori women who have significantly contributed to both contemporary Māori feminism and the broader spectrum of Māori rights.

This exhibition introduces the story of Hinetitama, celebrated as the dawn maiden, the mother of Tiki, the first man, and ultimately, the ancestress of humanity. In their artistic journey, Emma Ormsby focuses on capturing the essence and strength embodied in Hinetitama, serving as an act of homage and reciprocity to both the deity and Māori women. Their work is a response to the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Māori women and confronts the static, often un-evolving portrayal of Māori art. While their art is deeply rooted in the legacies of pioneers in contemporary Māori art, it also strives to expand the boundaries of this field.

Innovatively using materials such as acrylic and plywood, crafted through laser cutting, the exhibition reimagines the boundaries of traditional Māori carving (whakairo) and patterns (kowhaiwhai), merging them with contemporary artistic expressions. A key feature of this exhibition is the creation of pou (carved pillars) for a whare (meeting house) within a high school, designed as a space that celebrates feminine Māori identity. This initiative challenges the traditional norms of carving and design in Māori culture, which has been predominantly a male-dominated field. By introducing pou carved in a style that honours Māori feminine aspects and deities, this exhibition not only pushes the boundaries of artistic expression but also of cultural norms, advocating for inclusivity and the evolution of Māori artistic traditions in modern educational spaces.

Emma Ormsby (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou, Pākehā heritage) was born in 2001 in Hamilton, New Zealand, and raised on Auckland's North Shore. Her artistic practice includes an array of media including but not limited to sculpture, photography, digital works, textiles and paint. Emma's work is deeply rooted in Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and critically examines themes such as colonisation, religion, identity, wā (space and time), and feminism.

Employing Kaupapa Māori methodology, Emma collaborates on projects aimed at fostering cultural understanding and supporting the re-indigenisation of the mind and space. Her practice uniquely integrates traditional Māori art forms like Whakairo, Tukutuku, Kowhaiwhai, Whatu, and Raranga into contemporary contexts.

Emma's work is research-driven, delving into issues such as cultural genocide, patriarchal systems, and the coercive tactics used by religious institutions. Her artistic inquiry is informed by her personal experiences of growing up in an urban, high-demand religious environment, where she felt disconnected from and discouraged about embracing her Māori identity. This perspective adds a rich layer to her work, building upon the legacies of the first and second generations of contemporary Māori artists active from the 1960s through the 1990s.

Please note that the University of Auckland General Library will be closed from Thursday 21 December 2023 to Wednesday 3 January 2024.