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HEAVENLY BODIES

Maungarongo Te Kawa
Maungarongo Te Kawa
18.06.22–23.07.22
Maungarongo ‘Ron’ Te Kawa’s Heavenly Bodies centres on nine quilts. Each represents one of the nine whetū of the Matariki star cluster, which are often personified as a whaea, Matariki, and her eight tamariki: Pōhutukawa, Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipunarangi, Ururangi, and Hiwa-i-te-rangi.
According to Te Papa Tongarewa, Matariki signifies reflection, hope, our connection to the environment, and the gathering of people. She is also tied to the health and wellbeing of people. Pōhutukawa is associated with those who have passed on. Tupuānuku connects with everything that grows within the soil to be harvested or gathered for food. Tupuārangi connects with everything that grows up in the trees: fruits, berries, and birds. Waitī is associated with all freshwater bodies and the food sources that are sustained by those waters. Waitā is associated with the ocean, and food sources within it. Waipunarangi connects with the rain. Ururangi connects with the winds. Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the star associated with granting our wishes, and realising our aspirations for the coming year.

MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Hiwa-i-te-rangi, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1700 x 850mm
MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Pōhutukawa, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1450 x 950mm

MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Waitā, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1460 x 910mm
MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Waitī, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1570 x 930mm
MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Waipunarangi, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1500 x 750mm
'My most ultimate happy place would be floating in the sky, bathing in warm, healing starlight. The energy that the Matariki stars sing down to Papatūānuku in her most desolate time is the same energy that flows like water from my tīpuna to me. The closest I can get to that wonderful, dreamy place here on earth is when I am making. The unwanted and discarded is transformed into a world of soft materials and warm skin.'
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MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Tupuārangi, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1560 x 1000mm

MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Ururangi, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1400 x 910mm
MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Matariki, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1420 x 900mm

MAUNGARONGO TE KAWA
Tupuānuku, 2022
Mixed media quilt
1520 x 950mm