North Meets South Pacific at Hihiaua

The Hihiaua Cultural Centre will again be a focal point for artists and their audiences with manuhiri from far and wide here next week.

Along with other attractions in the region, we are expecting to host passengers from the first cruise ship to berth at Marsden Point, whanau on haerenga to Waitangi and an exciting exhibition of indigenous Ainu art from Japan.

Artist Ngaroma Riley has organised the group’s tour of Aotearoa in collaboration with Te Auaha Gallery, Te Papa Tongarewa, The Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust, Hoea! Gallery and Project Space as part of the Aotearoa Ainumosir Exchange Programme. “Ramat Kor Kur” is the first exhibition of Ainu art to come to Aotearoa and includes the work of four Ainu artists: Akemi Shimada, Koji Yuki,

Sayo Ogasawara and Atsushi Monbetsu. “Ainu” meaning human, distinguishes the Ainu people from kamui or divine beings which they believe reside in all natural objects. Formally and legally recognised as an indigenous people of Japan in 2019, the Ainu have their own distinct language and culture – reflected in place names throughout Northern Japan including Hokkaido.

Showcasing a range of contemporary art from embroidery to carvings, “Ramat Kor Kur” celebrates Ainu culture while highlighting the special relationship between Ainu and Māori with documentation of the Aotearoa Ainu Mosir Exchange Program by Japanese photographer Yasuhiro Iguchi. The exhibition coincides with an important milestone in Ainu-Māori relations. It marks 100 years since the 1924 world tour of Ratana founder, Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, during which he befriended Japan’s Bishop Juji Nakata of His Holiness Church.

Artist Ngaroma Riley has organised the group’s tour of Aotearoa in collaboration with Te Auaha Gallery, Te Papa Tongarewa, The Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust, Hoea! Gallery and Project Space as part of the Aotearoa Ainumosir Exchange Programme. The exhibition features embroidery, prints, photography, jewellery and musical instruments. All works will be for sale and the exhibition will be open until mid
February.

Following “Ramat Kor Kur” will be the Pasifika exhibition featuring artists from the south Pacific as part of Pasifika Fusion Festival which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.