Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award Explained

The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award is a biennial art award in New Zealand, hosted in Wellington by the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in partnership with the Office of the Māori King. The award is named for the current Māori King, Tūheitia Paki; it was launched in August 2020 and was first presented in 2021.[1] In addition to showcasing emerging Māori artists, the award is intended to hold a role in recording and naming ancestors from various Māori hapū and iwi, and their stories.[2]

The award is preceded by a competition, encouraging Māori artists to create portraits of their ancestors in any visual medium.[3] A panel of judges selects finalists from the competition entries and these works are shown in a three-month long exhibition, hosted by the New Zealand Portrait Gallery and timed to coincide with Matariki. Following the closure of the inaugural award competition exhibition in August 2021, the exhibition toured the country for two years.[4] A second competition was presented in 2023.[5]

2021 competition

The inaugural competition in 2021 attracted 128 entries; 50 finalists were selected and exhibited in the award exhibition. The judging panel selected a first prize winner, a runner-up and awarded 13 Honourable Mentions. The judges were Sir Derek Lardelli, Kura Te Waru Rewiri and Lisa Reihana.

!!Artist!Work!Subject!Medium!Notes
First PrizeBodie Friend Nana PatPat KingiBlack and white photograph[6]
Runner-upTe Haunui TunaSurvivalTamarau WaiariDigital drawing and video [7]

2023 competition

The 2023 competition had 96 entries and 43 finalists. The judges were Steve Gibbs, Mr G (Graham Hoete) and Lisa Reihana. The winner gets a NZ$20,000 prize and runner-up gets a NZ$2,500 prize. Judges commendations and the winners were announced on May 24 2023.[8] [9]

One of the entries, Heke Mai, by Robert Pritchard-Blunt was created using artificial intelligence (AI) and Photoshop and is a picture of his maternal great-great-grandmother, Rakapa Rakapa Tarapiipipi of Ngāti Hauā.[10]

The winning entry by Stevei Houkāmau was partly inspired by time she spent on a Native American reservation in New Mexico and learning about blue corn seeds that had been with people for generations. The work is about her great-great-grandmother Hinemaurea and the wider family also. Hinemaurea was the daughter of Raramaitai and married to Te Aotaki, they had five children including Ruataupare, who was married to Tūwhakairiora (a Ngāti Porou chief).

Hinemaurea was seen to have great mana and has two existing marae named after her, including our marae in Wharekahika, Hicks Bay. (Stevei Houkāmau 2023)[11]

!!Artist!Work!Subject!Medium!Notes
First PrizeKia Whakatōmuri te haere whakamua,Hinemaureauku or clay
Runner-upMing RanginuiSwept under the Rug Heeni Jayne Ranginuibroomstick, muka, cotton pearl thread
Highly commendedHeramaahina EketoneNgaa Houhanga Rongo .artists grandfather's tūpuna - Toroa, Manutongaatea, Kai-ahi, Peehaa-nui, Kookako, WhaeaTaapoko, Tamainupooacrylic on MDF[12]
Highly commendedTia BarrettA Time Capsule of Arohaartists grandmother - Ruby Rangiwhakahaere Ngahere Barrettphotograph
Highly commendedMichelle EstallWhen it's time to come home... Elizabeth (Lizzie) Lunjevich nee Waru 1899- 1951Acrylic on stretched canvas[13]
Highly commendedBobby LukeNgākau MahakiHuirangi Eruera WaikerepuruMoving image
Highly commendedTukiri TiniKai WhakairoTe Hira Roa Pateoro, William Bill TiniWood carving

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award 2021. 14 July 2021. New Zealand Portrait Gallery. en-NZ. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714102407/https://www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/2021/5/28/kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award. live.
  2. Web site: Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award . 2023-07-27 . New Zealand Portrait Gallery . en-NZ.
  3. Web site: May 28, 2021. Photograph Wins Inaugural Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award. 14 July 2021. www.scoop.co.nz. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714102626/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2105/S00241/photograph-wins-inaugural-kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award.htm. live.
  4. Web site: 28 May 2021. Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Award: 'We need those stories'. 14 July 2021. RNZ. en-nz. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714103638/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/443552/kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award-we-need-those-stories. live.
  5. Web site: 2023-05-24 . Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award: Winning piece represents links of artist's whakapapa . 2023-07-27 . RNZ . en-nz . 26 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230526010429/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/490586/kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award-winning-piece-represents-links-of-artist-s-whakapapa . live .
  6. Web site: 27 May 2021. Bodie Friend wins Kīngi Tūheitia Portraiture Award. 14 July 2021. Stuff. en. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714103345/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/125236624/bodie-friend-wins-kngi-theitia-portraiture-award. live.
  7. Web site: Emerging Māori Artist Bodie Friend wins the Kīngi Tuheitia Portraiture Award . 2023-07-27 . Te Ao Māori News . en . 27 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727045518/https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2021/05/27/emerging-maori-artist-bodie-friend-wins-the-kingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award/ . live .
  8. Web site: Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award . 2023-07-27 . Artnow . en . 27 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727045512/https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award-2023 . live .
  9. Web site: Finalists Announced For 2023 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award Scoop News . 2023-07-27 . www.scoop.co.nz . 18 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418183141/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2304/S00094/finalists-announced-for-2023-kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award.htm . live .
  10. Web site: AI artwork makes shortlist for Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award 2023 – Arts House Magazine . 2023-07-27 . artshousemagazine.co.uk . 27 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727045515/https://artshousemagazine.co.uk/ai-artwork-makes-shortlist-for-kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award-2023/ . live .
  11. Web site: 2023-07-27 . Shocked and proud: Artist wins $20,000 portraiture prize . 2023-07-27 . NZ Herald . en-NZ . 5 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605092348/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/winner-of-kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award-2023-shocked-and-proud/X5VOG4K7UZHLLIU3ETCHAQXFPA/ . live .
  12. Web site: Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award honour roll News and Events . 2023-07-27 . Te Wānanga o Aotearoa . en . 27 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727045515/https://www.twoa.ac.nz/hononga-stay-connected/news-events/2023/06/26/kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award-honour-roll . live .
  13. Web site: 2023-05-25 . Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award 2023 . 2023-07-27 . New Zealand Portrait Gallery . en-NZ . 27 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727045521/https://www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/2023/5/25/2023-kiingi-tuheitia-portraiture-award . live .

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