Neke Moa, Mauri, 2023, installation view. Courtesy: the artist and Season, Auckland.

Mauri is a new solo exhibition by Neke Moa. Traversing adornment, sculpture, and installation, the show forms a journey through the artist’s understanding of mauri—or vital force—as an intention, requiring focus and purposeful actioning.

The explorer is greeted by a large kupenga (net) suspended in the gallery. It acts as a karakia (incantation) and a portal between people and atua (deities). Beneath the kupenga is a small whāriki (mat) carrying four mauri stones from Te Waipounamu (the South Island). These embody the ingredients of a good, solid mauri: planning, grounding, eternal timeframes, universal connection, and communication. The whāriki also supports a cluster of rāhui (protection) stones from Rangitoto. On a nearby wall, four adornment pieces express emotions that mauri can help people to access: ties to the past, self-reflection, creation of groups, and future focus. The journey ends with a series of wall-based installation works relating to atua, including Hineahuone, Tūtakahinahina and Te Roiroiwhenua, and Hinemau of the Whare Tītama.

Opening Event: Friday 20 October, 5.30 – 7pm.

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