The Northern Advocate | Acclaimed Maori contemporary artist to teach new course at NorthTec
Acclaimed Māori contemporary artist Andrea Hopkins, a former NorthTec student, has returned to NorthTec to teach the new Maori Art and Design course being run through Te Puna o Te Matauranga (Māori Studies). Andrea studied Visual Arts at NorthTec between 1997 and 1999, and then completed an Advanced Diploma in Māori Art and Design from Toihoukura in Gisborne. She continued her art education at Toimairangi in Hastings, before attending the Christchurch College of Education where she received her Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Art).
Born and raised in Onerahi, Andrea returned to Te Tai Tokerau two years ago, having established herself as a prominent arts practitioner and guest lecturer, with numerous exhibitions of her work both in New Zealand and overseas. Andrea’s work combines her passion for contemporary art with her respect for Māori expression and culture, and her love for New Zealand. “I love contemporary art but especially Māori contemporary art,” she says. “It is so unique to where we are, in New Zealand, in our place at the bottom of the world. There is such an Antipodean culture here.” Andrea has had numerous exhibitions in New Zealand and overseas, including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Europe, including London. She has been critically acclaimed for her work. Andrea says she is keen to share her vision and knowledge with NorthTec students as she takes the helm of the new course.
Taipari Munro, head of North Tec’s School of Māori Studies (Te Puna O Te Mātauranga) says that over the years he has “watched with great keenness Andrea’s development within the discipline of art, especially because she presents a very strong Māori perspective. Andrea has trained with some of the country’s leading contemporary Māori artists as well as being exposed to ideas in traditional Maori art and so I know the skills she brings with her to Te Puna O Te Mātauranga. Andrea is passionate about what she does and I am very pleased that she has come to join us”, says Taipari.
The NorthTec course in Māori Art and Design will be “an intensive six months” and will cover 2D and 3D art forms including rectilinear and curvilinear design, and Māori art forms within clay, painting and mixed media from traditional through to contemporary. The course will also incorporate tikanga and art based on waiata. The pilot programme begins on 17 July, and Andrea is keen to start interviews for places by 10 July.
ANDREA HOPKINS 