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PAEMANU: AWA TOI 
International exhibition for the Asia Pacific Triennale  
Queensland Art Gallery /Gallery of Modern Art, Meanjin/Brisbane 
December 2024 –  April 2025

Paemanu has been invited by the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art to stage an exhibition as part of the eleventh Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT). APT is an ever-evolving mix of exciting and important contemporary art by artists from the Asia/Pacific region, with an expected audience of over 700,000 people from all over the region.

In response to this invite Paemanu whānui have been working on four major collective projects towards the upcoming exhibition Paemanu: Awa Toi. Over 50 Paemanu artists have contributed to exchange and share cultural understanding and expression through our unique traditions and Ngāi Tahu visual culture within Paemanu: Awa Toi. 

It began with a river. In 2023, 38 artists embarked on a four-day journey.

We followed an ancient travel route along the Waitaki awa, the river that has been the lifeblood of our ancestors for generations, culminating at the base of our chiefly mauka - Aoraki. From ocean to mountain, out of this shared experience emerged four creative aho (strands), Karaka, Ana Whakairo, Tīrewa and Hīkoi, collaboratively developed and presented under the identity of Paemanu. This approach, rooted in whanaukataka (kinship), manaakitaka (care), and kaitiakitaka (guardianship), is fundamental to who we are. 

The artists of Paemanu share whakapapa (genealogical connection) with the mountains, plains and waterways of Te Waipounamu (South Island, Aotearoa New Zealand). The decision to journey off our ancestral whenua (land) for the presentation of Paemanu: Awa Toi, as part of APT11, marks a new direction for our group.
 

The opportunity the Waitaki hīkoi (journey) provided to strengthen our relationship to and understanding of the physical and spiritual importance of the Waitaki, mirrors our approach to engaging with the context and peoples of the Maiwar (Brisbane river),Kurilpa (the site where the gallery is situated) namely the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples indigenous to the Brisbane area. Paemanu seeks to engage our members, hosts and audiences in deep conversation and exchange as our two rivers ‘meet’ 

Paemanu
Emma Kitson

 Our sincere gratitude to:
Avril Quail, Dr Bianca Beetson, Aunty Raelene Baker, Uncle Desmond Sandy, Aunty Deborah Sandy, Adam Ford, Sophia Sambono, Judy Watson, Otis Carmichael, Chris Jordan, Warren Gracie, Aunty Dale Chapman, Aunty Terry, Kieron Anderson and members of the ReKindle programme.

Tēnei mātou e mihi ana ki a mātou kaitautoko.

To our home people our warmest thanks and aroha to you all.

Our grateful thanks to Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa; Ngāi Tahu Fund; New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Manatū Taonga; Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art; Rātā Foundation; and Dunedin Public Art Gallery – home to the Paemanu collection.
 

Tēnei te mihi ki a koutou i te tautoko o te whakaaturaka nei.

Contributing Artists to Paemanu: Awa Toi

Aidan Taira Geraghty

AJ Manaaki Hope

Alice Webber

Allison Beck

Andre Te Hira

Arabella Spoors

Areta Wilkinson

Aria Karetai

Ashleigh Zimmerman

Ayesha Green

Caitlin Donnelly 

Chloe Cull

Conor Clarke

Dana Te Kanawa

Emma Kitson

Haawj Whaitiri

Henley Robertson

Hōhua Kurene

Jennifer Rendall

Jess Nicholson

Kahu Kaan

Kate Stevens West

Keri Whaitiri

Kiri Jarden

Kitty Brown

Kristina Gibbs

Laurence Robertson

Lennox Langdon

Lonnie Hutchinson

Maaka Robertson 

Madison Kelly

Maha Tomo

Martin Langdon

Matilda Langdon

Megan Brady

Moewai Rauputi Marsh

Mya Morrison-Middleton 

Natalie Karaitiana

Nathan Pōhio

Neke Moa

Nicole Solomon

Peter Robinson

Rachael Rakena 

Ross Hemera

Simon Kaan

Summer Te Kanawa

Tama Parker

Te Moananui Ryan

Tia Barrett

Turumeke Harrington

Vallance Wrathall

Vicki Lenihan 

Paulette Tamati Elliffe

Kommi Tamati Elliffe

Natalie Horsford

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