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Kapa Haka is the embodiment of a message and (my paintings) are a visual representation of that message.
Jermaine Reihana is an emerging Māori artist. Born in Auckland (8th July 1986) with Ngati Hine, Hokianga and Pakeha whakapapa, he studied at Massey University School of Māori Visual Arts in Palmerston North, graduating with honours in 2012. Reihana’s work featured in the most comprehensive survey of Māori contemporary art, Te Atinga: 25 Years of Contemporary Māori Art which exhibited during 2013.
The catalogue for this exhibition was subsequently published in 2014. In 2015 he held his first solo exhibition Te Matahi at Depot Artspace in Auckland and continues to exhibit nationally.
In this Emerging Icons episode Jermaine talks with Jamie McEwan about his commitment to kapa haka and how it informs and connects to his art.
He also discusses the revitalisation of te reo, some of the challenges he has faced in his practice and the sense of mindfulness that has settled throughout his personal and artistic journey.