Nââwié Tutugoro
Nââwié TutugoroBorn to a Kanak father and Anglo-Argentinian/European mother, Tāmaki Makaurau born artist Nââwié Tutugoro presents a practice comprising of site-specific sculptural drawings that illuminate moments from her childhood and works with found materials to emphasise contextual negotiations of place and space.
The return to art making after a small hiatus has initiated a performance piece whereby Nââwié Tutugoro paints directly onto the walls of the gallery. Accompanied by film photographs, Nââwié emphasises a time in her hair journey before puberty and the pressure of assimilation set in, when she wore her proudly.
““My fondest memories are, my brother, my Dad and I going to Pule’s, which was the Barbers in Grey Lynn, and getting our hair buzzed down short”.”
Nââwié featured in the Tautai Gallery’s first exhibition Moana Legacy. In this Artist Spotlight from 2020, Nââwié shares the story behind their work and their ongoing relationship with Tautai.
Video by NoSix.
“…looking at the form as an umbilical cord, how I can connect to those who have gone before me…
- Naawie Tutugoro