RONGOMAI HOSKINS
Rongomai Hoskins
Photographer: Jos Wheeler
TAIOHI 2021
Ko Huruiki te maunga
Ko Whakapara te awa
Ko Whangaruru te moana
Ko Mātaatua me Ngātokimatawhaorua ngā waka
Ko Whakapara te marae
Ko Ngāti Hau me Ngāti Hao ngā hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
Rongomai is a multi-disciplinary artist working across visual arts. Her interest in creative social justice was cultivated through her upbringing and continued at university with a Bachelor’s in Communication Design. Since then, she has been focused on contributing towards Māori centred curatorial and research practices in the museum and gallery sector.
Rongomai is experienced in the use of photography in her arts practice, both digital and analog and as well, enjoys painting and illustration using graphite, ink, watercolour and oils.
One area that Rongomai is really keen to engage further with is customary practices and their contemporary uses and she’d like to contribute towards an art gallery that has Māori at its centre and reflects Māori.
Some of the pūkenga that Rongomai most admires are Te Kawehau Hoskins (tōna Whaea), Toi Te Rito Maihi, Mata Aho, Hanahiva Rose, Megan Tamati-Quenell, Maata Wharehoka and Ruakere Hond.
“Toi and creativity is just revolutionary… It can be healing, it can be activism, it’s sovereignty.” Rongomai Hoskins and Nikau Campbell are part of a collective of young Ngāpuhi artists.
This is part of our reo Māori series, Ohinga, created by Mahi Tahi Media, with funding from Te Māngai Pāho.
Rongomai completed a three month full-time apprenticeship Te Uru Aute alongside Aute practitioner Nikau Hindin, funded by Creative New Zealand and largely supported by Toi Ngāpuhi. Read about it here HERE.