Aoraki

Artist: Anahera Lewis Kemara

Title: Aoraki

Medium: Print

Dimensions: A1

Edition: 3/15

Artwork kōrero

Aoraki speaks to the interconnected elements of te taiao and the deep relationship we share with the natural world.

The swirling patterns across the sky represent te hau, the wind and air, connecting to Tāwhirimātea, atua of the winds and weather. Rising through the centre of the work is Aoraki Maunga, representing the strength, presence and enduring connection of the maunga to the whenua.

Beneath the maunga, the tāniko patterns represent wai, water, reflecting whakapapa and our enduring connection to the waterways that sustain and connect us.

At the base of the painting are Māori patterns representing Papatūānuku, grounding the work in the whenua and acknowledging our connection to the earth, our roots and the land from which we come.

Together, these elements speak to whakapapa, connection and belonging, reminding us that we are not separate from te taiao, but an integral part of it.