PAEMANU
Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts
PAEMANU: AWA TOI
International exhibition for the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial
Queensland Art Gallery /Gallery of Modern Art, Meanjin/Brisbane
December 2024 – April 2025
Paemanu has been invited by the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art to stage an exhibition as part of the eleventh Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT). APT is an ever-evolving mix of exciting and important contemporary art by artists from the Asia/Pacific region, with an expected audience of over 700,000 people from all over the region.
In response to this invite Paemanu whānui have been working on four major collective projects towards the upcoming exhibition Paemanu: Awa Toi. Over 50 Paemanu artists have contributed to exchange and share cultural understanding and expression through our unique traditions and Ngāi Tahu visual culture within Paemanu: Awa Toi.
It began with a river. In 2023, 38 artists embarked on a four-day journey.
We followed an ancient travel route along the Waitaki awa, the river that has been the lifeblood of our ancestors for generations, culminating at the base of our chiefly mauka - Aoraki. From ocean to mountain, out of this shared experience emerged four creative aho (strands), Karaka, Ana Whakairo, Tīrewa and Hīkoi, collaboratively developed and presented under the identity of Paemanu. This approach, rooted in whanaukataka (kinship), manaakitaka (care), and kaitiakitaka (guardianship), is fundamental to who we are.
The artists of Paemanu share whakapapa (genealogical connection) with the mountains, plains and waterways of Te Waipounamu (South Island, Aotearoa New Zealand). The decision to journey off our ancestral whenua (land) for the presentation of Paemanu: Awa Toi, as part of APT11, marks a new direction for our group.
The opportunity the Waitaki hīkoi (journey) provided to strengthen our relationship to and understanding of the physical and spiritual importance of the Waitaki, mirrors our approach to engaging with the context and peoples of the Maiwar (Brisbane river),Kurilpa (the site where the gallery is situated) namely the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples indigenous to the Brisbane area. Paemanu seeks to engage our members, hosts and audiences in deep conversation and exchange as our two rivers ‘meet’
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Our sincere gratitude to:
Avril Quail, Dr Bianca Beetson, Aunty Raelene Baker, Uncle Desmond Sandy, Aunty Deborah Sandy, Adam Ford, Sophia Sambono, Judy Watson, Otis Carmichael, Chris Jordan, Warren Gracie, Aunty Dale Chapman, Aunty Terry, Kieron Anderson and members of the ReKindle programme.
Tēnei mātou e mihi ana ki a mātou kaitautoko.
To our home people our warmest thanks and aroha to you all.
Our grateful thanks to Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa; Ngāi Tahu Fund; New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Manatū Taonga; Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art; Rātā Foundation; and Dunedin Public Art Gallery – home to the Paemanu collection.
Tēnei te mihi ki a koutou i te tautoko o te whakaaturaka nei.
Contributing Artists to Paemanu: Awa Toi
Aidan Taira Geraghty
AJ Manaaki Hope
Alice Webber
Allison Beck
Andre Te Hira
Arabella Spoors
Areta Wilkinson
Aria Karetai
Ashleigh Zimmerman
Ayesha Green
Caitlin Donnelly
Chloe Cull
Conor Clarke
Dana Te Kanawa
Emma Kitson
Haawi Whaitiri
Henley Robertson
Hōhua Kurene
Jennifer Rendall
Jess Nicholson
Kahu Kaan
Kate Stevens West
Keri Whaitiri
Kiri Jarden
Kitty Brown
Kristina Gibbs
Laurence Robertson
Lennox Langdon
Lonnie Hutchinson
Maaka Robertson
Madison Kelly
Maha Tomo
Martin Langdon
Matilda Langdon
Megan Brady
Moewai Rauputi Marsh
Mya Morrison-Middleton
Natalie Karaitiana
Nathan Pōhio
Neke Moa
Nicole Solomon
Peter Robinson
Rachael Rakena
Rongomaiaia Te Whaiti
Ross Hemera
Simon Kaan
Summer Te Kanawa
Tama Parker
Te Moananui Ryan
Tia Barrett
Turumeke Harrington
Vallance Wrathall
Vicki Lenihan
Paulette Tamati Elliffe
Kommi Tamati Elliffe
Natalie Horsford