Professor Ross Hemera can best be described as a rangatira of the Ngāi Tahu art aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from the landscape of Te Waipounamu and in particular, the rock art created by his tīpuna, his works are creative expressions of contemporary Māori pattern, design and imagery, and expand the tradition of Ngāi Tahu visual culture.
Most well-known for his mixed-media sculptures, his work has been included in many contemporary Māori art exhibitions and in recent times he has taken on a number of public commissions including the Te Ao Marama carving at Te Papa Tongarewa and the 'Tuhituhi Whenua’ mural at Te Hononga: Christchurch Civic Building.
Whakapapa, whenua, mana, taonga and whānau are at the heart of his creative practice and guide his visual expression of ‘Ngāitahutanga’.
"Te wātea… All of my work is about filling that space. Kia ora koutou katoa, I don’t need to say anything more."
5 сен 2024
