The moana and more

During October, a new batch of textile exhibitions opened in our three largest centres, most running through November and beyond. For three exhibitions in Christchurch and Auckland, Pacific traditions are foremost, while a new show at the Dowse brings out highlights from the gallery’s extensive textile collections.

Initially a 2020 lockdown project, the Tautai Fale-ship residencies this year offered three artists a three-month residency to develop new projects. This year’s recipients include Indo-Fijian craft and social practitioner, Quishile Charan, whose residency work is an eco-dyed and embroidered banner “mapping the histories of plantation resistance, rebellion and protest led by Girmitiyas women”. The Fale-ship exhibition can be viewed at Tautai until 6 December; the exhibition event programme includes an open-day workshop on Saturday 22 November, details of time and place on the Tautai website.

At Auckland’s Gus Fisher Gallery What we choose to remember, the four artists exploring ideas of nation building include Kulimoe’anga Stone Maka with his black tapa cloth, Kaaimu’a. The ngatu tā’uli (Tongan tapa cloth) made specially for the exhibition reflects his interest in the relations between Britain and Tonga, particularly the ‘loyal friendship of Queen Sālote Tupou III of Tonga and Queen Elizabeth II of Bolata’ane (Britain)’. Black tapa cloth is a specialised form of tapa, traditionally associated with Tongan royalty. The artist spoke to RNZ’s Mark Amery around the time of the exhibition’s opening. On until 13 December.

Time is running down for CoCA Toi Moroki’s Āhuataka: A Wānaka of Kāi Tahu Woven Adornment, which closes on 10 November. Curated by the gallery’s 2025 Emerging Curator, Dr Ereni Pūtere, the exhibition brings together a wānaka (community) of Kāi Tahu arts practitioners, sharing how whakakai (adornments) are crafted with ancestral methods to represent whakapapa (ancestral connection) and cultural identity in Māori personal dress. The contemporary work stands alongside taoka tupuna (ancestral treasures) from Canterbury Museum, which is currently using CoCA’s first floor for pop-up exhibitions while the Rolleston Avenue site is being redeveloped.

CoCA is one of the sites of activity in the upcoming Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival, subtitled NZFW’s first official South Island event. There are some good events in the line up, including two panel talks at CoCA, and a Lyttelton show including among others CTANZ member Steven Junil Park. That’s the weekend taken care of for Christchurch readers.

Examples of Steven Junil Park’s other textile work is on show as part of a new group show at the Dowse, SOFTY: Textiles from the Dowse Collection. He keeps company with Areez Katki, Gordon Crooks, Malcolm Harrison and other big names among artists who ‘use the language of fabric and fibre to unpick ideas of masculinity, labour and identity’. This one’s on until March 2026, so plenty of time to check it out.