With Matariki approaching to celebrate, Precinct Properties and Commercial Bay is teaming up with visual artist Jade Townsend to host their first-ever Matariki celebrations. It’s an unmissable event as we will learn about what the indigenous future looks, sounds and feels like through Māori art.
The event (Whānau Mārama) starts from Saturday 19th June – Sunday 11th July. Gathering Māori artists and creatives to showcase various works representing different perspectives on Matariki, the Māori New Year. With over 16 artists presenting works in partnership with a range of retailers, Commercial Bay will be transformed into a site for aspirational experiences with Māori art never presented in this way before, while also showcasing the beauty and architecture of the precinct itself.
Townsend’s major sculptural commission, Matariki, is expected to be a visual delight for visitors to learn about each of the nine whetū that appear in the Matariki constellation.
Other Māori artists have collaborated with retailers, both local and international, to tell a different story around Matariki:
- Leather goods label, Yu Mei, will display hand-painted canvas bags by artist Nikau Hinden (TeRarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngai Tūpoto).
- Wynn Hamlyn and Hana Pera Aoake have collaborated with a sewing gathering, the resulting artwork will be on display in the store window and carries themes of new beginnings, the cycle of life and death, remembrance, fertility and celebration.
- Husband and wife duo, Lissy (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu) and Rudi Robinson-Cole (Ngāruahine, Ngāti Tu, Ngāti Paoa, Waikato) will display their sculptural crochet art representing the Pohutukawa whetu (star) In the window of international retailer, Kate Spade.
- Spark has opened up its Commercial Bay space to game development talent, Maru Nihoniho (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāi Tahu), who has created a captivating in-store VR experience for Spark’s large screen where you can learn more about the Matariki star meanings.
Don’t miss out on this special event and head down to Commercial Bay from Saturday 19th June – Sunday 11th July!
