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\nOne of the manu figures by artist Te Maari in the Private View exhibition. Photo \/ Kelly O\u2019Hara<\/p>\n
A collection of handcrafted woollen manu may be small, but they tell a much bigger story about friendship, creativity and the personal connections that make art meaningful.<\/p>\n
The unique figures are among the works featured in Private View, showing at Tauranga Art Gallery until October 25. The exhibition brings together artworks usually found in private homes across Tauranga Moana, revealing not just the artworks themselves, but a glimpse into the locals who collect and live with them.<\/p>\n
For Tauranga\u2019s Keri Welham, the display marks the first time all eight handcrafted manu have been reunited since they were created.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s actually a really cool moment to walk into the gallery and see the group represented,\u201d Welham said. \u201cIt\u2019s been such a positive period of our lives and then to see that going out into the world through our little dolls has been quite a buzz.\u201d<\/p>\n
The figures belong to members of the Toi Ataata Collective, a group of seven women who began collecting contemporary New Zealand art during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020.<\/p>\n
Rather than building individual collections, the friends pooled their resources to support artists while learning more about contemporary art.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought we\u2019d be able to support a much larger number of artists and learn a lot more about art,\u201d Welham said. \u201cPersonally, it helped us figure out what we loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nOne of the manu figures by artist Te Maari in the Private View exhibition. Photo \/ Kelly O\u2019Hara<\/p>\n
Today the collective jointly owns about 22 artworks, which rotate between members\u2019 homes every six months. Annual trips to galleries and art fairs have become a tradition, with members debating and voting on potential purchases before adding new works to their shared collection.<\/p>\n
Not every artwork is everyone\u2019s favourite.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had lots of conversations at the beginning about how we wouldn\u2019t only be buying things that each individual really loved,\u201d Welham said. \u201cThere\u2019s one work I really didn\u2019t like at first, but once it lived in my house it became a bit like a friend. That became part of the learning too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The handcrafted manu featured in Private View are different. Unlike the collective\u2019s shared artworks, each figure is individually owned and was specially commissioned from artist Te Maari, who now lives in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Instead of sending photographs, each member wrote a personal letter introducing themselves. They also chose a bird – or, in one case, a moth – that best represented them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was surprisingly confronting,\u201d Welham said. \u201cYou had to sum yourself up in just a few paragraphs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Using those letters, Te Maari created distinctive felt and Shetland wool figures filled with deeply personal details.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mentioned in passing that I very occasionally wear bright red lipstick, and my figure has these tiny little touches of red through the hairline. It\u2019s extraordinary how someone can read three paragraphs and create something that feels like you.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\u2018Landscape with\u2026[Riwaka] 1974\u2019, oil on canvas, by Toss Woollaston with furnishings curated by Kathrine McDonald. Photo \/ Kelly O\u2019Hara<\/p>\n
While the collective owns paintings by leading contemporary artists including Yuki Kihara, Ayesha Green and others, Welham believes the manu were the perfect choice for Private View.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a story that goes beyond the artwork itself,\u201d she said. \u201cArt is about stories, and we\u2019ve become quite addicted to learning about artists, their process and their vision.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd seeing our collection of manu by Te Maari, together for the first time in this exhibition, feels a little like the story of our friendship has been brought to life in wool and felt.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sense of connection is exactly what Private View celebrates.<\/p>\n
Alongside works by artists including Gretchen Albrecht, Ralph Hotere, Reuben Paterson, Robin White and Toss Woollaston, the exhibition explores the relationship between art, interiors and everyday life, with furniture and furnishings curated by interior designer Kathrine McDonald.<\/p>\n
For Welham, joining the collective transformed her relationship with art.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was an absolute newbie in 2020,\u201d Welham said. \u201cNow I\u2019ve got my own collection and I\u2019m also a founding trustee of Tauranga\u2019s Font public art trust. It\u2019s been an amazing journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Private View is on display at Tauranga Art Gallery until October 25.<\/p>\n
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