Breathtaking in scope, ambition and artistry, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki’s’ 2020-2021 survey exhibition of Māori contemporary art from 1950s to present day, Toi Tu- Toi Ora broke all attendance records and forged new ways of presenting and understanding Māori art. It was also the touchpoint for a critical conversation about who should lead and author such projects. Curated by artist and curator Nigel Borell (Pirirākau, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whakatōhea), the exhibition was framed by the Māori creation narrative, unfolding an artistic journey from Te Kore (The Empty Void) to Te Po (The Great Darkness) through to Te Ao Marama (The World of Light and Life). Now celebrated in the book Toi Tu- Toi Ora, it is a gateway to a Māori lens on knowledge, identity, place and cultural history – highlighting some of the best artists working today, and an essential conversation about cultural practice in this country. Borell speaks with Deidre Brown.

Supported by NZ Contemporary Art Trust.