Porowhita

Tia Venning

May 18th - June 21st 2020

Porowhita - circular, surround, reserve.

The items crafted for Porowhita draw inspiration from the concepts of embrace versus enclose; define versus confine, and ring versus fenced; and how these have affected our perception of Māori culture and art post colonisation.

Red threads represent Te Whei Ao, the realm of ‘Coming into Being’ - the dawn. Red is the colour of life; flowing, invigorating, reinventing.

Black rings represent Te Korekore, the realm of ‘Potential Being’; the void.

Above: Neckpiece: Uaua (artery, dilema), 2020, polymer clay, cotton.

Below: Fidget Bracelet: Tatere (unsettled), 2020, polymer clay, waxed cord.

Above: Pendant: Manawanui (stout-hearted), 2020 aluminium, nylon cord, enamel paint, polymer clay.

Below:Pendant or Brooch: Whati (break off), 2020, rimu, enamel paint, brass, aluminium, wool.

Above: Pendant or Brooch: Māwharu (the 13th day of the Māori lunar cycle, Maramataka), 2020, rimu, enamel paint, brass, aluminium, wool.

Below: Pendant or Brooch: Tinaku (sprout, conceive), 2020, rimu, enamel paint, brass, aluminium, wool.

Tia Venning

Visual Artist and Contemporary Jeweller

Originally dedicated to 2D visual arts, Tia Venning switched her focus to contemporary jewellery after exploring the relationship between her art and the body and discovering the medium that would satiate her desire to make her works a physically personal experience. She completed her degree in Visual Arts in 2019 majoring in Contemporary Jewellery under the tuition of renowned jeweller, Peter Deckers.

Her fascination with the human body not only as a platform for art but as it’s inspiration has seen Tia draw much of her inspiration directly from it; from cells to bacteria; bone tissue, to the circulatory system. Research into the New Zealand health system in 2019 led her to her current topic of interest; Inequity in Māori Health and investigating comparisons with the evolution of Māori art and crafts.

Instagram: @tiaVenning