TOI KŌRERO TUKU IHO
Stories and Histories
Julie Paama-Pengelly
Julie Paama-Pengelly is a veteran in the revitalisation of tā moko Māori tattooing. Her studio in Mount Maunganui mixes contemporary and traditional designs and cultivates artists from all walks of life.
With expansive teaching experience, her art practice ranges from the use of symbolic imagery to pure abstraction in graphic design, painting, mixed media, and tattooing.
Over time many misconceptions have surfaced about who has the right to wear and practice tā moko. Julie is one of the first women to practice in the male-dominated field. She is a strong voice for Māori women’s rights and continues to break down barriers to give women a place in tā moko and in the arts.
Maraea Timutimu
Maraea Timutimu is a multi-disciplinary artist from Tauranga Moana. She’s an art kaiako in Tauranga, and a former student of Queen Victoria Māori Girls Boarding School. Maraea has produced work across a wide range of mediums through paint, sculpture, printmaking and installation. Often coming back to our traditional arts, poi, tukutuku, and raranga.
Maraea was introduced to natural dyes and colour pigments during time as a student of Tina Wirihana at Te Wānanga o Awanuiarangi. In recent times, whenua has become a medium for her to explore connection and whakapapa, as she brings together pigments from Tūhoe, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi te Rangi. It has become a way to document the places to which she belongs.
Alongside using whenua pigments in her individual art practice, Maraea is also engaged in the kaupapa of sharing this knowledge with her wider hapori.