Hao: Māori Male Weaving

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Brookfields Lawyer's Gallery
Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi - Whakatāne Exhibition Centre

When we think of raranga and whatu (weaving) as art forms it is most often associated with women where the skills and techniques have been passed down maternal lines for centuries. But what is largely unknown is that men have also practiced these arts and in some cases have excelled in their chosen art form.

Co-curated by Mark Sykes (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Porou) and Karl Chitham (Ngā Puhi, Te Uriroroi), this exhibition presents the work of a group of kairaranga tane (male weavers) making work for whānau (family), friends and collectors in Aotearoa and further afield. The exhibition features diverse work across whatu, raranga and tāniko including kākahu, kete, tukutuku, kupenga and hīnaki.

Hao is a continuation of a project curated by Sykes and Chitham for Whakatāne District Museum and Gallery in 2008 called New Threads: Contemporary Male Weaving. Twelve years on this exhibition acts as an opportunity to reflect on the shifts that have occurred over that time and to celebrate the incredible work being produced by these talented individuals today.

This exhibition is a partnership between Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi - Whakatāne Exhibition Centre and The Dowse Art Museum, Wellington.