There are a few narratives that are the foundation of this show.
The need to self-soothe, connect to culture and break stigmas to which we inherently cling.

Self-Soothe - Mental Health has played a large dominant role in my life for a while. Having explored many mediums to support day-to-day functioning has been fleeting in the past.
Painting may be my next casualty. 
However, the repetitive nature of the process, and the stimulation of colour and textural combinations while talking to ancestral storylines have seemed to stick.

Connection to Culture - Being mixed Wāhine Māori born and raised in (so-called) Australia has come with infinite glaring and nuanced intergenerational trauma. The reclamation of my culture has been prior to my inception. It has been relentless. This is merely the next step in a string of many that enable me to continue to return home.

This is for my Dad. This is for my pēpē. This is for my Tūpuna.

Breaking Stigmas - The Taniwha is a monster in our culture. They are guardians that travelled across the seas with each iwi. They are moral enforcers. They are mythical and incredible. 
Often Taniwha, like all monsters, is pigeonholed as just that. Monsters. 
It’s part of human conditioning that we label ideas, creatures, people, and things we don’t know as bad or scary or wrong.

The reaction to the misunderstood is something that makes me sad. With hope and connection, these reactions and preconceived notions can melt away. That excites me.

This collection is a reflection of all three touch points, for sure more.

The use of bright colours, punchy block characters and textural elements gives me a stimming rainbow of Taniwha.