Rongo Tuhura
Hiruharama/ Gisborne
Like many practicing artists, Rongo has been attracted to art and its creation since childhood. He describes having an early interest in art of the Renaissance period, with his special interest being the human anatomy. When you ask Rongo what it is specifically, that he likes about this subject, he is very definite. It is the spirit of the people.
Rongo enjoys connecting not only to the subjects of these great works, but to their creators. He likes to feel with the artist. In his own work he uses this same process, in order to express some of what his subjects may have been going through when the work is made.
Rongo had a short period away from art making, but through his brothers encouragement he decided to rekindle his interest and go to art school. He spent two years studying graphics at Matapuna Training Centre in Gisborne and from there moved on to Toihoukura School of Maori Art, where he graduated in 2007 with a Diploma in Contemporary Maori Art.
Rongo’s style is realism. He thinks that perhaps he was born into the wrong time period… that the realists may have already had their day. But he looks upon it as just another challenge. He is unafraid of challenges, and in our conversation he talked of changing attitudes to art making. He doesn’t buy into current art conversations. He describes himself as self-content, not easily bored, and a bit of a loner who likes it that way. Rongo is serious about art making. He wants to take his work somewhere, and that is “not just up the road”.
‘Rongo Tuhura is one of the most exciting illustrators of Maori concepts I have come across. His works are pictorial gems carefully thought out and created. They need to be enjoyed as individual pieces.’
Darcy Nicholas - General Manager Pataka Museum, Porirua City
You can contact Rongo at: rongotuhura@gmail.com
mobile 021 0296 2941
This post is tagged Maori Contemporary, Painting, Photo realism, Rongo Tuhura, toihoukura
10 Comments
I really like your mahi, you are very talented
kia ora cuz.
Hi
Have changed my contact details
Mobile: 021 02962941
Email: rongotuhura@hotmail.com
cheers
Ngā mihi nunui ki a koe e taku whanaunga.
I kitea tōu ingoa i runga i tēnei website.
ka pātai atu – Hika mā! Nā wai tēnei tama?
Kua mārama kē au ināianei, nā uncle Romeo koe nērā!
Ko au tētahi tama nā tō kōka – Ko Kassie Tuhura ( te tuahine o tōu pāpā)
Ka mau tō wehi whanaunga!
Te wehi hoki o tāu mahi i konei!
Ā tōna wā ka kite ai i a koe
Nā tōu whanaunga
Kina Pai
kia ora uncle gunn
haven’t seen you in a long time i’d tell you your arts meke but you already know i think that lol.
it’s my 21st next year i was just wondering if you could do one of those realism pictures of me and my son (Mahutaiterangi) . i’ll bring him out to nans to see all of you’s i do’nt stay in gisborne i’m in hastings. man dat picture of jo looks meke i’ve been showing all my new whanau how talented you are. i’ll be in gizzy next week i’ll try to come catch up with all of you’s.
Love Ya
Hey Rongo
Your a fantastic artist. am looking forward to seeing more of your work down here in wellington.
arohanui Keri-Mei
Tena koe. What a pleasure to view such talent. Inspirational and uplifting. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Ia manuia lava.
Kia ora everyone! Thank you for all of your lovely comments and support. You are most welcome to view more of my mahi on my new website: http://rongotuhura.webs.com. You are also welcom to sign up as a member and keep up to date with what I’m up to with regards to future works and exhibitions.
Regards, Rongo Tangatake Tuhura
Kia ora Rongo, just viewing your web site. What awesome art,very impressive. Even my husband was impressed.Im still studying at the wanaanga doing art hope everything goes well.
Kia ora, Rongo! Thank you, e hoa. Hope all’s going well for you at the wananga. You’re an awesome artist. Keep up the mean mahi girl! I really enjoyed my time at the wananga with all of you tauira. Massive crew of people! Goes to show just how much talent there is out there, which is an awesome thing for the art world, and for Toi Maori.
Ask Jolene if she’s finished that painting yet ay? hahaha
My love to you and the whanau!
Rongo T Tuhura
Incoming Links
Leave a Reply