Te Reo Maori Greeting: Tena koe, ko Aroha
te maunga, ko Hauraki te moana, ko Matai whetu te marae, ko Marutuahu te iwi,
ko Matene Te Nga te Rangitira, ko Tainui te waka, ko Watene te whanau, ko Ralph
McKenzie te tane, ko Tepora te ingoa, Kia ora.
English translation: Hello to you all, Aroha is my mountain, Hauraki is my sea, the name of my Marae (meeting place and home for tribe)is 'Matai Whetu', my tribe is Marutuahu (Ngati Maru), the name of my paramount chief is 'Matene TeNga', Tainui is the name of the vessel my ancestors migrated to New Zealand in, Watene is my family name, my husband is Ralph McKenzie and I my name is Tepora, I wish you well.
Biography:
My career as an artist began in 2005. My first studio was
‘Studio 44’ in Mardon Rd, Hamilton. 2008 we moved to the foothills of Mt
Pirongia. I’ve named my ‘creative space’; Toi Toi Studios & Productions.
Art and the Artist
I practice various painting styles; Archetypal
Expressionism, expressionism, realism, surrealism, abstract and renaissance.
I’m constantly developing the styles I find enjoyable. I use; ‘Archetypal
Expressionism’ to depict ancient legends and or history, ‘Expressionism’ and/or
‘abstract’ to express my emotions and/or message, ‘Realism’ to portray a
person, scene, event or history. Whilst my main medium is acrylic, I also work
with water-colour, pastel, conte, graphite, lead, ink, grounds, sand, gels and
various impasto mediums. The supports I use range from canvas to framed stretched
canvas, board, pastel paper and water-colour paper.
Influences:
Ancient art, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock, Monet, Cezanne
and Maori; carvings, weaving and art.Education:
2007 Art
Foundation Course; Learning Connexion, Wellington
2005 Art
& Painting; Tutor - Pam Watson,Hamilton
1969 – 1972
Otahuhu College, Auckland; Music, Pianoforte, English, French, Latin, Science.
Exhibitions:
2006
‘Go Figure’ Group Exhibition; Mixed Media Art Gallery,
Hamilton
2006 ‘Forsaken’
Solo Exhibition; SupaNova Studio Gallery, Gordonton
2007 ‘Forsaken’
Solo Exhibition; Empire Gallery, Cambridge
2007 ‘Forsaken
Collection’, by request for our Maori King Tuheitia, Hukanui Marae.
2008 ‘Coastings’
Group Exhibition; Arts Post Gallery, Hamilton
2008
‘Pirongia Annual Art Awards’, Pirongia
2009 Solo
Exhibition; Pirongia Art Gallery, Pirongia
2009 ‘OSFA
Exhibition and Competition’; Thornton Gallery, Hamilton
2011 ‘Amiorangi
Group Exhibition’ for Matariki; Thornton Gallery, Hamilton
2011 ‘OSFA Exhibition and Competition’; Gallery Artisans, Hamilton
2013 ‘OSFA Exhibition and Competition’; Gallery Artisans, Hamilton
2013 ‘OSFA Exhibition and Competition’; Gallery Artisans, Hamilton
Awards:
2013 ‘People’s Choice’, ‘OSFA Exhibition and Competition’;
Gallery Artisans, Hamilton
Media: Painting and drawing
Region: Mt Pirongia/Te Pahu, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand.
Commissions: Yes
