Skye Sigley and her kaiako Hamish Oakley-Browne from Te Kowhai Print Trust.
Art grounded in whenua, whakapapa and wāhine Māori is taking centre stage at the Toi Tū, a new exhibition bringing artists and community together in Russell.
The new exhibition was curated by Northland fine artist and curator Lana Kingsbeer and she said it creates a space that is relational rather than transactional.
She said holding it at Haratu Marae was a conscious and deeply respectful decision.
“Marae are places of gathering, dialogue, and continuity; they are living spaces where stories are shared, not contained.
“Presenting art in this setting invites people to slow down, reflect, and engage with the works in a way that is relational rather than transactional. It also affirms that art does not sit apart from the community – it belongs within it.”
She said the artists engage with atua and whakapapa not as distant mythologies, but as living presences that continue to shape identity, creativity and responsibility.
Many of the works, like that of artist Skye Sigley, speak to wāhine Māori as carriers of knowledge, creation and resilience – reflecting cycles of birth, death, regeneration and care.
“These themes emerge through carving, painting, taonga-inspired forms and contemporary materials, creating a layered conversation between the ancestral and the present day.”
Kingsbeer said there were many moments that stood out from the exhibition.
“But one that stands out was seeing artists from different backgrounds and generations working together with generosity and respect. The quiet conversations, shared cups of tea, and mutual care throughout the process felt just as important as the finished exhibition. Those moments embodied the true spirit of Toi Tū.”
She added that the marae setting makes the exhibition welcoming and accessible and encourages people to go and have a look.
“You don’t need any prior knowledge of art to visit Toi Tū. This exhibition is about people, place, and stories – not exclusivity. Come as you are, take your time, and experience the space in your own way.”
Sigley, 22, is one of the youngest exhibitors and a new mother and she said Toi Tū was more than an exhibition. It was a deeply personal reflection of motherhood, whakapapa and connection to atua wāhine.
Sigley has had smaller exhibitions in Whangārei, but said this was the most work she had put together for a show.
“I’ve recently become a mum to a little boy, and so my pregnancy journey was behind a lot of my work. They’re based on atua wāhine, so our female ancestors, our gods. I did six pieces and they’re based on three different atua.”
Her pieces reflect Hine-te-iwaiwa , Hine-nui-te-pō and Hineputehue.
“It’s about it’s another support for us and knowing like Hine-te-iwaiwa is connected to childbirth, and like when we say karakia, she’s who we who is in our mind ... it helps to feel connected and supported and know that there’s a long line of ancestors who are next to us.”
She said getting her work together has been a long journey, but “quite magical and I’m lucky to have a lot of family support in this area as well”.
She said she is excited to share her works with visitors and already received favourable feedback.
“There were lots of tours that came through. So I’m looking forward to hearing more from them. I did meet a lady from Hawaii and she was really impressed. She said, ‘It’s interesting to see a lot of similarities with Hawaii and also a lot of differences as well in our art forms.’ So that was really interesting.”
The exhibition opened last week and runs until February.