Differences in kind and rhythm is the second in a series of dialogue exhibitions made at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery since 2024, for which artists from Aotearoa are paired with international artists.
Curated by James Gatt, this exhibition pairs the work of senior multidisciplinary artist Peter Robinson and Italian painter Giorgio Griffa, eliciting a considered and cross-cultural conversation between the works and their respective practices.
Together, the paintings by Griffa and sculptural forms by Robinson have shared qualities of repeated forms and movements that respond to related concepts of repetition and difference, emergence and continuum. Common threads can be seen within the works through the complex, lyrical, the sharp and soft, illustrating subtle distinctions between similar forms and difference in expression.
Sofia had a kōrero with Peter Robinson about the making of Differences in kind and rhythm.
Karin Montgomery is a craft-based artist, working from a background in textiles, interior design and her innate passion for ecology.
Montgomery shows an attentiveness to her ecological surroundings, and prides herself as a gardener and an observer with always an interest in making.
As an observer, Montgomery has drawn close attention to the Camellia flower within her current exhibition at Object Space, The Camellia Society. The show presents ten beautifully detailed hand-crafted replica paper Camellias that line the gallery in an ode to a garden.
Paying close attention to a normally overlooked Camellia plant, Karin puts its beauty to the forefront, reminding us of the little nuggets of beauty sitting right in our backyard. Inviting viewers to engage with attentiveness and to become observers of the beauty within our own ecological surroundings.
Maya had a kōrero with Karin about the show and her overall practice.
Murmuration is a solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Li Si Rong.
Within Murmuration Li Si Rong presents a body of work that hovers between the everyday and an imagined dream-like space, navigating humanity's relationship with the home, and the things inside them.
Her paintings Sing with sweeping colours and dance amongst familiar forms while pulling the viewer into a world of the paintings themselves; that of a feeling of home and into a space of community.
Mobile like structures hang alongside the paintings, playing a careful balancing act like that of the movements of starlings, Murmuration. Li Si Rong uses Murmuration as a metaphor for community, shifting the gallery space into a place of murmuration itself, bringing us together into a space of warmth when we need it most.
Maya had a chat with Li Si Rong about Murmuration, as well as her overall practice .
Ma 間is a new exhibition curated by Yuka O’Shannessy on at the Arts House Trust at Pah Homestead.
With a background rooted in her upbringing in Japan and exploration of artistic mediums and making, including her pursuit of fashion studies, Yuka has a refined, distinct, and thoughtful aesthetic as the Director of Public Record.
Ma is often translated to mean ‘gap’, ‘space’, or ‘interval’, referring to a space that creates harmony between elements. Exploring space, connection, and transformation, Ma 間 traverses the Japanese concept with a ‘series of intentional pauses, moments of tension, openness, and calm, that invite reflection and connection within an environment.’ Showcasing the works of 28 artists as sourced from the Arts House Trust’s collection, as well as Public Record’s and other selected artists, this exhibition presents a considered curation, presentation, and appreciation of craftsmanship and refined and unique visual expression.
Sofia had a kōrero with Yuka O’Shannessy, as well as Director of the Arts House Trust at Pah Homestead, Anita Tote-ah, about the show.
As family violence service provider Shine amps up their July ‘light it orange’ campaign, the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children have released a statement condemning the decision by Minister for Children and for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour to disestablish Te Pūkotahitanga.
This collective is a Māori partnership body for the elimination of family violence and sexual violence, which gives Māori leaders a critical voice at the decision making table.
In their statement they said the decision “is disrespectful to both Māori and non-Māori, and furthers the systematic erosion of Tiriti-based governance, entrenching distrust of the Crown across all communities.”
Following a report released earlier this week by the National Mortality Review Committee which found that Maaori women are disproportionately impacted by family and sexual violence, experts in this field have stressed the need for a stronger multi-agency response that is effective, proactive and includes crisis support.
There have also been calls for a national conversation that “treats gender-based violence as a public, not private, issue”, and highlights the issue of femicide in Aotearoa.
To discuss this topic further, Producer Sara spoke with Chair of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children, Leonie Morris, about what the disestablishment of Te Pūkotahitanga means for mahi and outcomes relating to Māori
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has suggested to the local government forum that regional councils may be abolished, stating that
"After the upcoming changes to the Resource Management Act, I doubt that there's going to be a compelling case for regional government to continue to exist.“
Regional councils across Aotearoa are responsible for matters relating to natural resource management, flood control, and biosecurity.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said effectiveness between different councils is varied, and that councils generate too much bureaucracy and are “too focussed on vanity projects”.
As well, in order to make the most of local and central investment into Auckland’s growing city, the government is asking Auckland Council to increase the housing development allowance around key Central Rail Link stations in the lead up to the project’s completion.
Seeking to amend the resource management act, the government hopes to increase housing height and density around Mount Albert and Baldwin Avenue stations, allowing upzoning of ten stories around these areas, in addition to allowing upzoning of fifteen stories around Maungawhau, Morningside and Kingsland.
Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics, starting with the proposal to scrap regional councils.
For our weekly catch up with the Labour Party, Producer Sara speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about the ‘censorship’ of youth MPs in Parliament this week, as well as some of the financial changes that came into effect on July 1st
For City Counselling, Sara speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about the government’s idea to scrap regional councils, as well as their request for the approval of up to fifteen storey buildings around CRL stations.
For International Desk, News and Editorial Director, Joel, speaks to the Executive Director of the Britain Palestine Project, Dr Brian Brivati, about the potential shift in international order, looking at Israel’s and the US’ recent attacks on Iran, and Israel’s continued war on Gaza.
And Sara speaks to the Chair for the Safety of Women and Children Leonie Morris, about the disestablishment of Te Pūkotahitanga.
Ina and HALFQUEEN discuss the Polyfilms Movie Marathon at the Hollywood Avondale on Friday, a maaaaassive 12 hours of films - all entirely free as part of this year's Whau Pasifika Festival!
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