KETE TUAURI

KETE TUAURI by Nyle Turuwhenua

Dimensions: Image size 205mm x  330mm Paper Size 315mm  x  430mm
Signed & number 2/10 Limited edition relief Linocut, Black int on Fabriano paper

‘Kete Tuauri’ explores the sharing of knowledge, both the teachings that have been preserved and those that have been lost or forgotten. The kete, a vessel for gathering, becomes a metaphor for the accumulation of wisdom passed through generations. Each interwoven whenu (strand) represents a piece of knowledge, a story, or a skill woven together by the threads of whakapapa, culture, and language. This drypoint etching speaks to the reclamation of that which has been forgotten or lost. It reflects the struggle and resilience in retrieving knowledge. ‘Kete Tuauri’ encourages us to reclaim what was once lost, reweaving the threads that connect us to our past, and to remind us that the knowledge we carry forward is powerful for future generations. Drypoint etching is an intaglio printmaking technique where an image/ drawing is scratched directly onto a metal or acrylic plate using a sharp needle. The action of drawing raises a burr (a ridge of displaced material) along the lines, which holds ink and creates rich, velvety
marks when printed. Ink is applied to the plate and then wiped so it remains only in the incised lines.

Nyle Turuwhenua’s work explores notions of whakapapa, connection, and mātauranga Māori. For Nyle, developing skills as a weaver has been an important catalyst in her personal and artistic growth, opening pathways to reflect on identity and cultural heritage. Her printmaking practice encapsulates ideas of kaitiakitanga, intergenerational knowledge, and ancestral connection through physical making. In Nyle’s work, birds and weaving play a key role in the act of kaitiakitanga. Nyle values the tactile and the handmade, embracing the labour involved in printmaking and weaving. Both of these processes involve preparation, repeated actions, and physical dexterity, which sometimes leads to hands that are calloused and cut. For Nyle, art making is a labour of love, a journey of discovery, and a practice that fosters deep connections to self, others and whenua. Nyle Turuwhenua is a proud member of Toi Whakaata Māori Print Collective.