RANGI KIPA
A practicing artist of over twenty years, Rangi Kipa is now forging a reputation internationally with overseas collectors. With exhibitions in Denver and New York in the next 12 months, his profile in America is about to take off.
Rangi was a graduate of the Maraeroa Carving School in 1986, a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Waikato University in 1994, a Masters of Maori Visual Arts, Massey University 2006.
His selection as the Te Waka Toi Inaugural Artist in Residence to Noumea in 2004 is evidence of his commitment and involvement in the Maori Arts. Proficient in various disciplines Rangi specialises in taa moko, sculpture (wood, stone, bone, corian) ethnographic taonga and illustration. Rangi has works in major collections in New Zealand (Te Papa, Dowse Art Museum, Puke Ariki) and overseas. Recent awards include the 2006 Creative New Zealand Craft/Object Art Fellowship and the Molly Morpeth Canaday Creative Excellence Award 2004.
"The process of relearning customary techniques is that it allows you to understand the thought processes of our tupuna and their inter-relationship with their environment. These processes effectively are an inheritance of over a thousand years of occupation and the unbroken transfer of the mauri [life-essence]; they are doorways to walk with our tupuna"
Rangi seeks to recreate the ‘voyaging nature’ of Maori and to explore the world through his art, seeking new ideas and places to be, a continuum of our ancestors departure from Hawaiki to explore new horizons.
Yearly Achievements
October 2007
Exhibitor - Denver Museum of Contemporary Art – Inaugural exhibition
2005-2006
Recipient of the Creative NZ Craft/Object Art Fellowship 2006
Exhibitor ‘Manawa’ Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, Canada. February
Exhibitor ‘Hei Tikitiki’ Lane Gallery, Auckland
Exhibitor ‘The Eternal Thread - Aho Mutunga Kore’ San Francisco U.S.A. August
Exhibitor ‘Aatea’ Centre of Contemporary Art, Christchurch Arts Festival. July
Artist In Residency ‘Art&Fact’ Collaborative, Taranaki Arts Festival. June – July
Exhibitor ‘Te Hei Tiki’ Toi O Tamaki, Auckland City Art Gallery. June – September
Exhibitor ‘Home Fires Burning’ Percy Thompson Gallery, Stratford. July – August
Exhibitor ‘Awatea’ Mary Newton Gallery, Wellington. May
Exhibitor ‘Toi Iho’ Te Papa Store, Wellington. February – March
Exhibitor ‘Te Maia’ Hastings City Gallery
Exhibitor ‘Toi Maori’ Hastings