Ngaahina Hohaia

New Zealand visual artist and weaver (born 1975)

Ngaahina Hohaia
Born	1975
Nationality	New Zealand
Movement	Contemporary Māori Art

Ngaahina Hohaia (born 1975) is a visual artist and weaver of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Moeahu, Ngāti Haupoto and Greek descent from Parihaka, New Zealand.^[1]

Biography

Hohaia has artistic influences from her grandmothers. Her Māori grandmother was a weaver and Greek grandmother was a painter.^[2]

Ngaahina gained a Masters in Māori Visual Arts from Toioho ki Āpiti in 2009 and in 2010 received the Arts Foundation of New Zealand New Generation Award.^[3]^[2] In 2007 Hohaia received the Te Waka Toi Ngā Karapihi award.

Work

Her work often draws from Parihaka history and has been exhibited nationally and internationally.^[4] Her contemporary art work uses traditional fibres combined with metals and silks.^[2] Items she has created include jewellery and adornment pieces, sculpture and large-scale multimedia installations.^[3]

Wellington's City Gallery opened a new gallery space Roderick and Gillian Deane Gallery for Maori and Pacific Art in 2009 with a large installation by Hohaia made up of over 500 poi created from natural fibre including woolen blankets. The work honours the messages of peace from Parihaka leaders Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi.^[5]^[6]

Exhibitions

2016 Tools of Oppression and Liberation Pataka Art + Museum, Porirua^[7]
2013 Navigation Pacifica, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney^[4]
2013 Call of Taranaki, Puke Ariki, New Plymouth^[4]
2013 Matatau, Bath Street Gallery, Auckland^[4]
2010 Manawa Wera - Defiant Chants Objectspace, Auckland^[8]
2009 Ngahina Hohaia City Gallery Wellington^[9]
2009 Fibra Spirare, Rydals Museum, Sweden - showcased five contemporary New Zealand textile artists^[10]

Personal

Hundreds of people gathered at Ōwairaka mountain in Auckland in 2020 in solidarity for Hohaia after she made a complaint with the New Zealand police about a racial attack on her. Māori leaders spoke out against the decision made by the police not to prosecute.^[11]

References

^ "Artists poi reflect on pain of Parihaka". City Gallery Wellington. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hakaraia, Libby; Waata Urlich, Colleen, eds. (2008). Te kāhui o Matariki : contemporary Māori art for Matariki. Urlich, Colleen Waata, 1939-2015. North Shore City, N.Z.: Raupo. ISBN 978-0-14-300934-4. OCLC 213382039.
^ ^a ^b "Ngaahina Hohaia". The Arts Foundation, New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Artist in residence to explain her influences". Taranaki Daily Times. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2016 – via Stuff.co.nz.
^ "Parihaka poi opens new Deane Gallery". The Big Idea. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
^ "Artist in residence to explain her influences". Stuff. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
^ "Ngahina Hohaia". Pātaka Art + Museum. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^ Borell, Nigel. "Manawa Wera". Pbjectspace. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^ "Ngahina Hohaia". City Gallery Wellington. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^ "City Gallery Wgtn Opening: On The Pain of Parihaka | Scoop News". Scoop. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
^ Tyson, Jessica. "Call for police to review alleged racial attack on Ngahina Hohaia". Māori Television. Retrieved 6 January 2021.