After the difficult year we’ve experienced in Aotearoa New Zealand the new series of paintings by Hiria Anderson (Rereahu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Apakura) comes as a relief.
The view from a plane, a scene in the pub, a Wellington street, a basket of laundry … images like these are in our collective visual memory and remind us, gently, that it’s everyday scenes and overlooked objects that make up the greatest part of our lives.
Anderson’s paintings reinforce the fact that ordinariness can be reassuring during times of great change. And they remind us that we’re passengers on the same waka, making the same journey, together.
Hiria Anderson describes one of the principles governing Te Ao Māori as being the impulse to work together for the common good of everyone and everything.
“Collective Aspirations is a term used within communities who are focussed on recovery and moving forward; communities who want to rebuild together in a post-Covid era.
We pay attention to elements of nature, both the seen and the unseen, to help restore, keep order and maintain life’s balance.
Our principles are guided by ngā uara (values) including Kotahitanga (unity), Manaakitanga (caring for each other), Aroha (love), Tika (what’s right) and Pono (truth). It is the way we have traditionally functioned throughout our existence in order to survive.
I am interested in what ngā uara look like today, in 2022, as I observe my life through a contemporary lens. I hope my paintings are helpful.”
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Whakakotahi
2022
oil on canvas
1000mm H x 1500mm W
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Whakakotahi (detail)
2022
oil on canvas
1000mm H x 1500mm W
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Whakakotahi (detail)
2022
oil on canvas
1000mm H x 1500mm W
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Te Rerenga
2022
oil on canvas
505mm H x 400mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
oil on canvas
510mm H x 400mm W
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Laundromat Rata St
2022
oil on canvas
250mm H x 200mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Waiting for Koro & Nanny
2022
oil on canvas
450mm H x 350mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
A place where artists gather
2022
oil on canvas
300mm H x 250mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Ringawera
2022
oil on canvas
350mm H x 300mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Rangi & Papa
2022
oil on canvas
205mm H x 250mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Main Building - Escape Hatch
2022
oil on canvas
550mm H x 300mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Educating Māori Women
2022
oil on canvas
405mm H x 310mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Ipu Wai
2022
oil on canvas
205mm H x 250mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Waiora
2022
oil on canvas
300mm H x 400mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Kawhia Moana, Kawhia Kai, Kawhia Tangata
2022
oil on canvas
400mm H x 300mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
The Old Shed – Haurua Waitomo
2022
oil on canvas
305mm H x 405mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Pā Pot & Pig Scraps
2022
oil on canvas
300mm H x 400mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Ringawera II – Young men preparing kai
2022
oil on canvas
300mm H x 250mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Smoko at the Mill
2021
oil on canvas
380mm H x 480mm W (frame)
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Life on the front line
2022
oil on canvas
250mm H x 350mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
The Ministers and the Dragon
2022
oil on canvas
485mm H x 385mm W (frame)
COLLECTION CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY TE PUNA O WAIWHETŪ
Hiria Anderson-Mita
HA-CollectiveAspirations-05-Install
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Maungatautari
2022
oil on canvas
320mm H x 420mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
The space between us
2022
oil on canvas
620mm H x 520mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Hamilton to Wellington Return - First Time Flyers
2022
oil on canvas
330mm H x 630mm W (frame)
Hiria Anderson-Mita
A Little Street in Pōneke
2022
oil on canvas
330mm H x 280 mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
NZ5817 ki Pōneke – Self-portrait moving forward
2022
oil on canvas
250mm H x 200mm W
Hiria Anderson-Mita
After School Takeaways
2022
oil on canvas
425mm H x 525 mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view
Hiria Anderson-Mita
Collective Aspirations
2022
installation view