Te Hā o Te Wao Nui a Tāne | The Breath of Tāne

Te Hā o Te Wao Nui a Tāne welcomes you into Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki’s Todd Foundation Creative Learning Centre to experience an immersive ngahere (forest, ecosystem) created by artist Charlotte Graham (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Tamaoho, Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Kotimana).

Connecting with the ngahere reminds us of who we are and where we come from; how we all breathe and live together on this planet as tamariki (children) of Tāne. A space of healing, contemplation and joy, the ngahere is where Charlotte finds inspiration. Here you’ll enter into a ngahere as seen through Charlotte’s eyes: an unfolding space of calming, uplifting pastel colours; rich textures; rippling light and playful creatures. You’ll find manu (birds) like ruru (owls) and tīrairaka (fantails) perching in rākau (trees). You’ll feel ferns unfurling and growing. You’ll discover insects crawling across logs and pekapeka (bats) flying out of nooks. Manu will joyfully sing their ‘kia ora!’ to you.

Explore the textures, sounds and shapes of the ngahere. Find all the taonga (treasures) and make rub drawings of them. Paste your mahi toi (artwork) on the walls to help make the korowai (cloak) of Tāne. Return over the coming months as the korowai (cloak) of Tāne changes colour with the seasons.

Connect as kaitiaki (guardians) of the ngahere and all the tamariki of Tāne, of which you are one.

This Creative Learning Centre Project is dedicated to June Erica Graham.

It is made possible through the generous support of the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, Resene and Honeysticks.