Events
AURA'A 'ŌPŪ - Public performance and talk with Orama Nigou
Public Performance by Orama Nigou, 29 October, 10am, Massey Cinema.
Please join us for the final day of Orama Nigou’s residency, as the inaugural NOHO French Pacific artist in residence at Te Whare Hēra, for a public performance and artist talk.
Orama’s practice has a deep connection with her Polynesian heritage. Working with feathers, stitching, and her own body, she explores the intimacy of the creative process, memory and transmission, self-building and human transformation / metamorphosis.
In this new cycle of creation, the artist looks forward to taking her crafting gestures into performance, becoming the support, the human tapa on which the feathers will be sewn.
With thanks to the French Embassy and Villa Antipode for supporting this residency, and to Wellington City Council and Massey University for the partnership that makes Te Whare Hēra possible.
WORKSHOP : THE SEWN FEATHERS OF THE MARO'URA (Sunday Session)
WORKSHOP : THE SEWN FEATHERS OF THE MARO'URA by Orama Nigou
Seven years ago, Orama Nigou had the opportunity to study an artifact that could be a remnant of a maro'ura at the museum of quai Branly, Paris.
Maro'uras were royal sacred belts entirely sewn with feathers that were believed to have all disappeared and if the piece mentioned above is really a maro'ura, then it could be the last fragment in the world.
The damaged nature of the object allowed the artist to understand its structure and reconnect with the ancient technique.
Since then, she has been mastering the gestures that are now a fundamental part of her artistic practice.
In this workshop she invites you to both discover her universe and connect with a part of French Polynesia's pre-colonial heritage.
After a presentation by the artist, you will be initiated to the feather techniques from the potential remnant of a maro'ura and will practice them by making your own creation by embroidering a small canvas.
This workshop is available to 6 attendees, on two separate occasions - Saturday 18th October, and Sunday 19th October. With only 12 spaces available in total, register your interest quickly via Eventbrite.
Orama’s residency is supported by the French Embassy, and Villa Antipode NOHO Residency Programme, as well as Massey University’s Toi Rauwhārangi School of Art and Wellington City Council.
WORKSHOP : THE SEWN FEATHERS OF THE MARO'URA (Saturday Session)
WORKSHOP : THE SEWN FEATHERS OF THE MARO'URA by Orama Nigou
Seven years ago, Orama Nigou had the opportunity to study an artifact that could be a remnant of a maro'ura at the museum of quai Branly, Paris.
Maro'uras were royal sacred belts entirely sewn with feathers that were believed to have all disappeared and if the piece mentioned above is really a maro'ura, then it could be the last fragment in the world.
The damaged nature of the object allowed the artist to understand its structure and reconnect with the ancient technique.
Since then, she has been mastering the gestures that are now a fundamental part of her artistic practice.
In this workshop she invites you to both discover her universe and connect with a part of French Polynesia's pre-colonial heritage.
After a presentation by the artist, you will be initiated to the feather techniques from the potential remnant of a maro'ura and will practice them by making your own creation by embroidering a small canvas.
This workshop is available to 6 attendees, on two separate occasions - Saturday 18th October, and Sunday 19th October. With only 12 spaces available in total, register your interest quickly via Eventbrite.
Orama’s residency is supported by the French Embassy, and Villa Antipode NOHO Residency Programme, as well as Massey University’s Toi Rauwhārangi School of Art and Wellington City Council.
Creative Futures: Arts, Economy and System Shifts
Join Artist-in-Residence Teremoana Rapley, and Hutt City Council Community Arts Facilitator Etanah Talapa, for a talk about Creative Futures: Arts, Economy and System Shifts
Artist Floor Talk - Amazonia: Sapara Kaku
Join us for a Floor Talk with artist-in-residence Rubén Darío Díaz Chávez in The Engine Room
Amazonia: Sapara Kaku (Amazonia, The Sapara Universe)
An exhibition of works by Rubén Darío Díaz Chávez, our current artist in residence from Ecuador.
Emerging Artists Exhibition
Te Whare Hēra are delighted to present our Emerging Artists Exhibition for 2025, featuring 8 talented artists from Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Artists include Eli Armstrong, Emily Jane Scott, Justine Fletcher, Kaia Waite, Kyra Rowlingson, Samuel Scully, Siobhan Wooding and Tara Luty.
SAtheCollective Live at the Pyramid Club
Inheritance brings together visionary talents in a groundbreaking sonic exploration — Arts Laureate Horomona Horo, renowned Māori visual artist, Regan Blazer, Singapore’s leading multidisciplinary arts group SAtheCollective (Andy Chia and Natalie Tse), Wellington experimental music icon Jonny Marks, and boundary-pushing sound artist, Jon He, whose work combines ancient Chinese sound practice and creative technology.
Composer Workshop at NZ School of Music
Dr Natalie Tse and Andy Chia will present a composer workshop at Adam Concert Hall, New Zealand School of Music, titled ‘Extending traditional ethnic instruments’.
In Conversation with Clément Verger
Te Whare Hēra, in collaboration with Te Papa Tongarewa, would like to welcome you to an artist talk to be given by the first artist-in-residence for 2025, French artist-researcher Clément Verger. Join us for a presentation given by Verger followed by a discussion with Acting Head of Art, Curator Historical New Zealand Art Dr Rebecca Rice, Curator Māori and Indigenous Modern and Contemporary Art Isaac Te Awa (Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Ngā Puhi), and Curator of Botany Dr Carlos Lehnebach.
Clément Verger – Artist Talk
Clément, a French artist-researcher exploring the hidden stories behind the landscapes of the Anthropocene Epoch, is currently the Villa Antipode artist-in-residence at Te Whare Hēra. Combining art with scientific research, his work delves into how plant species travel and take root across the globe.