“It follows my subconscious thoughts to do with women matriarchs and throws in different cultural backgrounds – my Māori side, my Italian side, my Celtic side.”
This painting is called 'Ngā Tuāhine (Sisters)' and depicts Hariata Ropata-Tangahoe's three daughters Bela, Rewa and Aniwaniwa.
Ropata-Tangahoe, who is of Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Āti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Celtic and Italian descent, said the exhibition was “a little snippet” of her artworks.
“There’s a lot more out there.”
Ropata-Tangahoe, 71, has been an artist for a long time.
She remembers enjoying art when she attended Waikanae School.
“It was something that came naturally to me, compared to academia.”
Mei Carkeek-Higgott. Photo / Stephen A'Court
But her artistic journey really started after she went to Auckland and met some well-known artists.
“It’s a long story, but to cut it short, I married an artist [Murray Grimsdale] who was in the art scene, and he could see my potential and helped me develop.
“We separated, but I kept going with my art and have never stopped.”
She did some art studies in Waikato before completing a master’s degree at Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland.
