Mauri is a new solo exhibition by Neke Moa. Traversing adornment, sculpture, and installation, the show forms a journey through the artist’s understanding of mauri—or vital force—as an intention, requiring focus and purposeful actioning.
The explorer is greeted by a large kupenga suspended in the gallery. It acts as a karakia and a portal between people and atua. Beneath the kupenga is a small whāriki carrying four mauri stones from Te Waipounamu. These embody the ingredients of a good, solid mauri: planning, grounding, eternal timeframes, universal connection, and communication. The whāriki also supports a cluster of rāhui stones from Rangitoto. On a nearby wall, four adornment pieces express emotions that mauri can help people to access: ties to the past, self-reflection, creation of groups, and future focus. The journey ends with a series of wall-based installation works relating to atua, including Hineahuone, Tūtakahinahina and Te Roiroiwhenua, and Hinemau of the Whare Tītama.
