E moko, come home
3 May - 3 June 2023
Tessa Russell (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu)
E moko, come home is Tessa Russell's latest video work. Hei tiki drift across nine stacked windows. They float, sink, form rafts, come in and out of focus, while the sound of running water plays.
The gallery has been transformed into a dark, comfy lounge room for this exhibition. Armchairs, cushions, and rugs are available; please make yourself comfortable.
A hands-on activity is available in the gallery while this exhibition is on.
The projection will be moved around the gallery during its time at Wormhole. See the photos below to see it in its different iterations.
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Hana Pera Aoake has written a response to E moko, come home. Hana's long-form response was edited and funded by Vernacular, and is now available to read on vernacular-online.nz
Thank you, Hana and Vernacular, for exploring Tessa's work with clarity and warmth.
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Photos
Click on the images to see them in full.
Hover to see captions.
Artist Bio and Works List
Tessa Russell (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara who places her voice as a Māori mother at the center of her practice. Understanding how she makes will impact on the world her descendants live in, she explores using sustainable methods and materials when creating, unapologetically declaring the relationship Māori have with their environment. Tessa’s work opens up conversations addressing current issues affecting Māori, always reflecting on whakapapa, mana and mauri.
@toibytessa
E moko, come home (2023)
Video projection