New Exhibition At Te Atamira To Champion Our Native Bees

Te Atamira is delighted to announce Let the Honey Soak Through, a new exhibition from Otago-born artists Taarn Scott and Hana Pera Aoake (Ngāti Hinerangi, Ngāti Mahuta, Tainui/Waikato, Ngāti Waewae, Tauranga).

The exhibition, inspired by bee networks and their relationship with the environment, will formally open at 5:30pm on Tuesday 10 February. It examines the patterns bees create to sustain their lives, replicated by human systems, hiveware, keepers and agricultural formations.

It also shines a light on ngaro huruhuru – New Zealand’s 28 native bee species – which are essential pollinators to our native plants, and vital for understanding the complexity of te aitanga pepeke (the insect world) in climate adaptation.

Much work within the exhibition dwells in blue tones – the colour which most attracts honeybees – including Te Atamira’s gallery space itself. The exhibition also includes retired hives from local honey and hive company Be Local, and a bespoke reading nook with books on the exhibition’s themes on loan from QLDC Libraries. Local honey centre Buzzstop is also providing honey and honeycomb for guests attending the exhibition opening.

Exhibition events:

• Mosaic wānaka (workshop)

10am, Saturday 7 February | $45

Inspired by blue tones that attract honeybees, artists Taarn and Hana invite participants to smash up something old to make something blue.

• Let the Honey Soak Through exhibition opening & poetry performances From 5:30pm, Tuesday 10 February | Free to attend, all welcome

Evening will include a mihi whakatau to welcome artists and guests into the space, formally open the gallery, a viewing the works with wine and honey, and a spoken word performance form five poets. Poems will be performed by exhibiting artist Hana Pera Aoake, as well as Liz Breslin, Talia Marshall (Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Takihiku), Julian Noel (Ngati Whatua/Ngati Torehina), and Bethany Rogers.

Let the Honey Soak Through

will be open and free to visit in the Whakaari gallery space in Te Atamira from Wednesday 11 February – Monday 27 April.

© Scoop Media