Exhibition Te Mangōroa - The Milky Way

Te Mangōroa – The Milky Way: Artists Cheri Waititi (Ngāti Porou / Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) and Ali Davies collaborate on a series of work inspired by the night sky. With an initial release of an exhibition at The Mandarin Tree Art Gallery, Gordonton.

Viewing the night sky has been habitual for artist Cheri Waititi since she was a small child. Inspiration comes from her observations of her parents, grandparents, whānau, hapū and iwi on the landscapes, waterscapes and skyscapes that surrounded them. Birds have also played a huge role within her world with respect to her whānau kaitiaki and in doing so created imagery for design called Ngā Manu o Te Rangi – The Birds of the Heavens – bringing the narrative of the gifting of birds from the heavens to the earth.

The artist’s reflective glances of Te Mangōroa (The Long Shark) – The Milky Way, with its shapes, colours, and movement have inspired these artworks to celebrate the night sky at this time of the Māori New Year Matariki. Working collaboratively alongside textile artist Ali Davies has been pinnacle in Cheri’s dream of designing garments and accessories for men and women. The collection includes limited edition artworks and a range of silk scarves available in three sizes.

Whakaahua Designs:

Te Mangōroa I – Capturing the movement of the light across Te Mangōroa as it appears in the night sky.

Te Mangōroa II – Capturing the movement and flickering of various light within the Milky Way against the fusion of the cosmos colours.

Te Mangōroa III – The cascading of blue tonal hues across the translucent body of Te Mangōroa.

Te Mangōroa IV – Te Mangōroa swimming within the cosmos.

Ngā Manu o Te Rangi – Depiction of birds flying in the heavens that could have been drawn on caves telling the story of their descent from Te Rangi to Papatūānuku.

About the artists.
Cheri Waititi - Ngāti Porou / Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
Cheri is currently a teaching fellow within Te Kura Toi Tangata the School of Education, Te Wānanga Toi the Division of Education and a Manu Taiko (Cultural Advisor) for Tutira Mai NZ Ltd Māori Consultancy Firm. Cheri has lectured and taught in the Arts for more than 20 years and is an artist whose passion sits in photography, printing, drawing, and design.

Ali Davies
Ali Davies has designed patterns on textiles for more than 20 years and has grown a conscious business based on a love of natural fabrics and decoration. Ali has worked with other brands and creatives on bespoke homewares, costumes for film and television, fashion design, live theatre, and art pieces. Her work with Cheri Waititi began in the Waikato in 2008 where Ali printed Cheri’s designs onto silk for NZ Noh Theatre play The Blue Shawl.

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