Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award

Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award is a biennial portraiture award in Aotearoa New Zealand, hosted by the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata in partnership with the Office of the Kīngitanga. The award is named for the Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia; it was launched in August 2020 and was first presented in 2021.[1]

The award is preceded by a competition, encouraging Māori artists to create portraits of their tūpuna (ancestors) in any visual medium.[2] A panel of judges selects finalists from the competition entries and these works are shown in a three-month long exhibition, hosted by The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata and timed to coincide with Matariki. The plans were following the closure of the inaugural award competition exhibition in August 2021, the exhibition toured the country for two years, followed by a second competition.[1][3] A second competition was presented in 2023.[4]

In te reo Māori the word portrait is the word whakaahua, so you break that down whaka - meaning to cause, and ahua - to create something that describes the ahua, the nature, the personality and story of a person. So that doesn't necessarily mean an exact description of a face. (Graham Hoete aka Mr G 2023)[4]

In addition to showcasing across Aotearoa emerging Māori artists through it is also intended to hold a role in recording and naming ancestors from various Māori hapū and iwi, and their stories.[5]

2021 competition

The inaugural competition in 2021 attracted 128 entries; 50 finalists were selected and exhibited in the award exhibition. The judging panel selected a first prize winner, a runner-up and awarded 13 Honourable Mentions. The judges were Sir Derek Lardelli, Kura Te Waru Rewiri and Lisa Reihana.[2]

Artist Work Subject Medium Notes
First Prize Bodie Friend Nana Pat Pat Kingi Black and white photograph [6]
Runner-up Te Haunui Tuna Survival Tamarau Waiari Digital drawing and video [2][7]

2023 competition

The 2023 competition had 96 entries and 43 finalists. The judges were Steve Gibbs, Mr G (Graham Hoete) and Lisa Reihana. The winner gets a NZ$20,000 prize and runner-up gets a NZ$2,500 prize. Judges commendations and the winners were announced on May 24 2023.[8][9]

One of the entries, Heke Mai, by Robert Pritchard-Blunt was created using artificial intelligence (AI) and Photoshop and is a picture of his maternal great-great-grandmother, Rakapa Rakapa Tarapiipipi of Ngāti Hauā.[10]

The winning entry by Stevei Houkāmau was partly inspired by time she spent on a Native American reservation in New Mexico and learning about blue corn seeds that had been with people for generations. The work is about her great-great-grandmother Hinemaurea and the wider family also. Hinemaurea was the daughter of Raramaitai and married to Te Aotaki, they had five children including Ruataupare, who was married to Tūwhakairiora (a Ngāti Porou chief).

Hinemaurea was seen to have great mana and has two existing marae named after her, including our marae in Wharekahika, Hicks Bay. (Stevei Houkāmau 2023)[11]

Artist Work Subject Medium Notes
First Prize Stevei Houkāmau Kia Whakatōmuri te haere whakamua, Hinemaurea uku or clay [4]
Runner-up Ming Ranginui Swept under the Rug Heeni Jayne Ranginui broomstick, muka, cotton pearl thread [11]
Highly commended Heramaahina Eketone Ngaa Houhanga Rongo . artists grandfather's tūpuna - Toroa, Manutongaatea, Kai-ahi, Peehaa-nui, Kookako, WhaeaTaapoko, Tamainupoo acrylic on MDF [12]
Highly commended Tia Barrett A Time Capsule of Aroha artists grandmother - Ruby Rangiwhakahaere Ngahere Barrett photograph [12]
Highly commended Michelle Estall When it's time to come home... Elizabeth (Lizzie) Lunjevich nee Waru 1899- 1951 Acrylic on stretched canvas [13]
Highly commended Bobby Luke Ngākau Mahaki Huirangi Eruera Waikerepuru Moving image [13]
Highly commended Tukiri Tini Kai Whakairo Te Hira Roa Pateoro, William Bill Tini Wood carving [13]

References
  1. "Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award 2021". New Zealand Portrait Gallery. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  2. "Photograph Wins Inaugural Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award". www.scoop.co.nz. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  3. "Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Award: 'We need those stories'". RNZ. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  4. "Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award: Winning piece represents links of artist's whakapapa". RNZ. 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  5. "Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award". New Zealand Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  6. "Bodie Friend wins Kīngi Tūheitia Portraiture Award". Stuff. 27 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  7. "Emerging Māori Artist Bodie Friend wins the Kīngi Tuheitia Portraiture Award". Te Ao Māori News. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  8. "Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award". Artnow. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  9. "Finalists Announced For 2023 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  10. "AI artwork makes shortlist for Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award 2023 – Arts House Magazine". artshousemagazine.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  11. "Shocked and proud: Artist wins $20,000 portraiture prize". NZ Herald. 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  12. "Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award honour roll | News and Events". Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  13. "Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award 2023". New Zealand Portrait Gallery. 25 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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