Mata Aho Collective


The Mata Aho Collective is a group of four Māori women artists, Erena Baker, Sarah Hudson, Bridget Reweti and Terri Te Tau. They are known for their large scale fibre-based art work. They have been exhibited nationally and internationally, including in 2018 with an 11-metre textile work at the Royal Academy in London, and in 2019 as a centrepiece of a major international exhibition of contemporary indigenous art Adadakone at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa.

Background

Mata Aho Collective was established in 2012 after all four, Erena Baker, Sarah Hudson, Bridget Reweti and Terri Te Tau attended kaupapa Māori based meetings at Poupatete Marae in Halcombe in 2011. After this coming together they did a residency at the Enjoy Public Art Gallery in 2012, were they made their first work together and created the collective.
All women are graduates from the same courses, Toioho ki Āpiti and CoCA Massey University.
Materials used in their work includes faux mink blankets, synthetic marine rope, reflective tape and tarpaulin. They say when discussing their art work Tauira "As a rule, we like to address accessibility in our work through our use of material. In using ubiquitous materials that can be found both domestically and industrially, we hope that the recognisability can act as an initial ‘in’ to the work."
Within their work are statements of empowerment and integrity of Māori women, their work is founded in mātauranga Māori. The work Te Whare Pora is described as a powerful statement of indigenous knowledge systems and collective creativity.

Works

Artworks include:
Mahuika, 2019
Tauira, 2018
Taniwha Tales, 2017
Kiko Moana, 2017
Stop Collaborate and Listen, 2014
Te Whare Pora, 2012
Koakoa, 2012

Exhibitions

Exhibitions include:
2020
- Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi at Twenty
2019
- Honolulu Biennial Hawai’i State Art Museum, Hawai’i
- Océanie, Musée du Quai Branly, Paris, France
- The Slipping Away Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland NZ
2018
- Oceania, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK
- Signature Art Prize Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
- The Dowse Art Museum
2017
- documenta 14, Kassel, Germany
- Making Space, Centre of Contemporary Art, Christchurch NZ
2016
- Noho 16 Whau Art Centre, Auckland NZ
2015
- Disrupting the Narrative Thistle Hall, Wellington NZ
2014
- International Artist Initiated, David Dale Gallery, Glasgow UK
- Kaokao Toi Pōneke Arts Centre, Wellington NZ
- We who live in darkness, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington NZ
- Māori Art Market TSB Arena, Wellington NZ
2013
- Pūwawao, Aratoi, Masterton NZ
- Old Hall Gigs, Wellington NZ
- Te Whare Pora Enjoy Public Art Gallery, Wellington NZ