kia ora klimt

2014-2019

This series was created for an exhibition called Kia ora Klimt, the paintings were inspired by the "golden paintings" of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Klimt was most well-known for "The Kiss” which Te Kihi is based on. My love for Māori design combined with Klimt’s composition and golden pallette, allowed for a connection of cultures to be made. The original paintings incorporated glitter dust to emphasise the beauty of the cloak, the use of glitter rather than gold leaf was inspired by the artwork of New Zealand artist Reuben Patterson.

I created the series to explore pattern, culture, and identity and incorporated Māori design as a familiar motif that I grew up loving - primarily for its remarkable use of negative space. At the time, I hadn’t encountered the conversation around cultural appropriation, but since then I’ve learned its significance and impact. While I’m proud of this work and the growth it represents, I no longer create new art using Māori motifs, choosing instead to focus on directions aligned with my own connection and understanding.