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 I ask Rongo what it is specifically that he likes about this subject he is very definite. It is the spirit of the people. He enjoys connecting not only to the subjects but to their creators. He likes to feel with the artist, in order to express some of what may have been going through their minds when the work was 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 has graduated this year 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".

You can contact Rongo at: nzchieftain@walla.com
mobile 021 023 70267