Mataaho Collective – Taking Up Space: The Practice of Mataaho Collective
Members of Mataaho Collective will share insights into the research, making, and installation processes behind their large-scale works. This talk will explore the collective’s approach to collaboration, the importance of research and collection visits, and the key themes that underpin their practice. Attendees will gain an understanding of how Mataaho engages with customary weaving and fibre techniques, pushing the boundaries of these traditions. The discussion will also highlight material experimentation and spatial considerations, demonstrating how large-scale art can embody and amplify Mana Wāhine.
Biography
Mataaho Collective | Aotearoa | Est. 2012
Mataaho are a collective of four Māori women artists who have been making large-scale installations for over a decade. They produce works with a single collective authorship and their conceptual framework is grounded in Māori knowledge systems, specifically informed by Te Whare Pora the customary arts of Māori weaving and textile practices. In 2024 they were awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, became Arts Foundation Laureates in 2022, and received the Walters Prize in 2021 for their work Atapō, made in collaboration with Maureen Lander.