The Children of Māui is a expansion of Hassett’s ongoing project detailing the identity, whakapapa and history of the East Coast.  

 

Telling the beautiful story of these unique people,

Sharing their connection,

Their experience,

Their existence,

Allowing you to be one with this land just as they are.

 

The exhibition comprises a moving image work in MEANWHILE’s window, which serves to welcome visitors into the gallery, alongside large-scale photographic works and a contemporary poutokomanawa, fabricated in collaboration with Elliot Gonzales.

 

‘Ehara taku maunga a Hikurangi he maunga nekeneke, he maunga tū tonu’ - Te Kani-a-Takirau

 

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The Children of Māui has received support from Creative New Zealand.

 

Hassett’s separate project, A Place Tū Be, is on display in the Courtenay Place Lightboxes until 24 March.

 

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Chevron Hassett (b. 1994) born in Lower Hutt, Aotearoa is an artist of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu and Pākehā heritage. He holds a Bachelor of Design (Hons) from Massey University, Wellington (2016). In 2016, he was awarded the Emerging Māori Artist Grant by Creative New Zealand, and in 2017 received the Ngā Manu Pīere Award from Te Waka Toi/Creative New Zealand.

 

Selected exhibitions include, A Place Tū Be, Courtenay Place Light Boxes, Wellington (2018); COOKS Voyages - The true cost, (group), Thistle Hall, Wellington (2018); The Toi Two Hundy (group), Toi Poneke, Wellington (2018); 121, Black Space, Wellington (2018); Now Where to Somewhere (group), Paul Nache Gallery, Gisborne (2018); Expedition one: Te Ika a Maui (group), play_station, Wellington (2017); You and I (group), play_station, Wellington (2017); Ko Toku Taumata tonu, Ko Hawaiki (group), Thistle Hall, Wellington (2017); Ko Toku Taumata tonu, Ko Hawaiki, Kallio Kunsthalle, Wellington (2016).