Turuki Turuki! Paneke Paneke! When Maori Art Became Contemporary

In June 2008, it will be 50 years since the first Māori contemporary art exhibition was held in Auckland. The show was curated by Māori mentor and educator, Matiu Te Hau, presented at the Continuing Education rooms, University of Auckland. Turuki Turuki! Paneke Paneke! will celebrate the five senior Māori artists in that original exhibition: Arnold Manaaki Wilson, Ralph Hotere, Muru Walters, Katerina Mataira and the late Selwyn Wilson.

Turuki Turuki! Paneke Paneke! is being developed by Ngahiraka Mason, Indigenous Curator Māori Art to recognise this historic moment in our visual art and cultural history.

The exhibition will present up to 25 rarely seen works from this key period, supported by new research. Painting, carving, sculpture, drawing and ceramic works will be included. The exhibition will present selected highlights of the social context in which the artists worked in 1950s New Zealand, through a 160pp exhibition catalogue, detailed bilingual labels, wall panels and interviews.

Turuki Turuki! Paneke Paneke! is a Māori chant, often used when hauling waka (canoe) out to sea, meaning to advance in unison.