Christina Wirihana Explained

Birth Place:Rotorua, New Zealand
Known For:Contemporary Māori art, weaving

Christina Hurihia Wirihana (born 1949) is a New Zealand weaver from Te Arawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Rangiunora, Ngāti Raukawa, Tainui iwi.[1]

Biography

Wirihana was born in Rotorua in 1949.[2] Her mother is the weaver Matekino Lawless. Wirihana attributes Dame Rangimarie Hetet, Diggeress Te Kanawa and Emily Schuster as major influences but states her mother as being her most significant teacher.[3]

Wirihana was commissioned to weave an installation of harakeke panels that was part of a touring exhibition called Anō te Ātaahua - Honouring the Gifts of our Elders (2000-2002) that was presented in Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua and Whangārei.[4]

Wirihana is currently a senior lecturer at Toihoukura, the Māori visual arts school at Eastern Institute of Technology, and has previously been fibre tutor at Waiariki Polytechnic in Rotorua.[5] [6] The international touring exhibition was co-curated by Wirihana.

Wirihana's weaving is often an exploration of natural materials and processes. She says: "In my weaving I am continually inspired by the surrounds of my maunga (mountain) Matawhaura, moana tapu Rotoiti (Lake Rotoiti), my marae Taurua and especially my whanau (family)."[7]

Recognition

Wirihana is the chairperson of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa (National Collective of Māori Weavers in New Zealand). In 2014, this collective of weavers exhibited 49 tukutuku panels in Kāhui Raranga: The Art of Tukutuku at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. These panels were installed early 2015 at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.[8]

Wirihana has received funding from Creative New Zealand to develop new work and travel overseas for residencies, including a 2014 artist residency in Hawaii.[9] In 2003, Wirihana received Te Tohu Toi Kē from Te Waka Toi Creative New Zealand for making a positive development within Māori arts.[10] Wirihana is a life member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League.

In 2024, Wirihana was made a Companion of Auckland War Memorial Museum.[11]

Notable works

The British Museum holds five kete whakairo made by Wirihana in 1993. One is described as plaited from undyed kiekie leaf strips in an all-over twilled pattern of horizontal bands of diamonds. There is a band of check plaiting at the rim and handles made of braided muka. A second is also decorated with a diamond pattern, the third with decorative plaiting bands alternating with bands of twill, with a check weave at base and rim; the fourth has a vertical zigzag pattern known as koeaea, which is a type of whitebait); the fifth has horizontal bands of pattern with openwork.

Exhibitions

Wirihana has exhibited, attended symposia and residencies both nationally and internationally including:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Tamati-Quennell. Megan. Megan Tamati-Quennell. Pū Manawa; A celebration of Whatu, Raranga and Tāniko. 1993. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Wellington. 0-909010-00-5.
  2. Book: Smith, Huhana. Taiāwhio : conversations with contemporary Māori artists. 2002. Te Papa Press. 0-909010-86-2. Wellington [N.Z.]. 50999083.
  3. Book: Schamroth. Helen. 100 New Zealand Craft Artist. 1998. Random House. Auckland. 1869620305.
  4. Book: Kerekere, Elizabeth. Twist. Nicholas. Te Puni Kōkiri. 2001. 1-86953-513-8. [Wellington, N.Z.]. 53315308.
  5. Spring 1989. People: Tina Wirihana. Aotearoa Moananui a Kiwa Weavers. 10. 6.
  6. Web site: Staff. EIT. 5 February 2015. https://archive.today/20150205034702/http://www.eit.ac.nz/staff/christina-wirihana/. 5 February 2015. dead.
  7. Web site: Christina Wirihana. Toi Māori. 5 February 2015. https://archive.today/20150209164526/http://www.maoriart.org.nz/christina-hurihia-wirihana-p-160.html. 9 February 2015. dead.
  8. Web site: Kāhui Raranga. Te Papa Tongarewa. 5 February 2015.
  9. Web site: Who got funded?. Creative New Zealand. 5 February 2015. https://archive.today/20150205034730/http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/results-of-our-work/who-got-funded/artform?utf8=%E2%9C%93&artform=12&commit=Submit. 5 February 2015. dead.
  10. Web site: Te Waka Toi Awards. Creative New Zealand. 5 February 2015.
  11. News: Cook Islander Mary Ama awarded Museum Medal for her contributions to preserving culture . 1 July 2024 . . 6 July 2024.
  12. Web site: Artists. Toi Māori Art Market. 5 February 2015.
  13. Web site: Plastic Māori: A Tradition of Innovation. Creative New Zealand. 5 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205064117/http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/news/plastic-maori-a-tradition-of-innovation. 5 February 2015. dead.
  14. Web site: Call for Māori artists to go to Washington. Creative New Zealand. 5 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205064113/http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/mi/news/call-for-applications-for-maori-artist-to-go-to-washington. 5 February 2015. dead.
  15. Web site: Carving bound for Kanak Cultural Centre. Creative New Zealand. 5 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205065126/http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/news/carving-bound-for-kanak-cultural-centre. 5 February 2015. dead.
  16. Book: Kohia Ko Taikaka Anake. 1991. Te Papa Tongarewa. 0-909010-01-3.

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