ABOUT JULIE
Julie Paama-Pengelly has been at the forefront of developments in Māori Arts since the mid 1980s and was fortunate to have been taught herself by strong visionary Māori artists and mentors through the Toioho ki Apiti Bachelor of Māori Arts programme, of which she was a foundation student and served as student mentor.
Julie has a passion for Māori design and Tā moko-skin marking traditions, pioneering the role of women as Tā moko practitioners during the Tā moko revival period in the 1990s. Her subsequent experiences as an educator, writer, curator, designer and artist practitioner have influenced her ongoing drive to strategize Māori arts and artists development, culminating in her current role as chairperson of Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust (2015).
Julie holds Masters qualifications in Third World Development and Māori Visual Arts (honours) as well as Toi Iho certification - a unique registered Aotearoa New Zealand trademark of Māori quality and authenticity - for Tā moko, design and multimedia. She has served as Industry Advisor Māori Arts for the Ministry of Education, External Moderator for Te Kura Toi programmes at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, held Senior Lectureships and served as Head of Faculty: Arts and Visual Culture, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi, from 2004 to 2007. In 2010, she penned the award-winning book Māori Art & Design, the first comprehensive handbook on the subject.
Julie has directed leadership in research and social commentary on Māori arts and understands the importance of evolving art in her own work creation which explores a range of media located within a unique Māori pedagogical framework. Julie balances her art practice against the demands of her other strategic work, which includes commissioned Māori design, public works and curatorial, painted works and printmaking as well as 3D sculpture and the crafting tattoo hand tools.
“Julie has a lifelong commitment to learning and teaching, and these fundamentals of her life have enabled her to help others dream bigger, and achieve goals. Her empathy and unique style of ta moko - the art of Māori tattoo - allows the receiver of this unique and very personal expression of their history and identity, to be at total ease during this transformational experience”. From ‘Spirit’ Conversations with Creative Women 2021.
Julie Paama-Pengelly currently practises from her studio Art + Body in Mount Maunganui where she apprentices tattooists and evolves her own tā moko and art practice to cater for a range of clientele.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a multidisciplinary creative who is passionate about Māori art development. I believe that Māori arts are a powerful way to communicate Māori identity, culture, and values and that the arts are essential to our ongoing identity and wellbeing as Māori.
I am driven to create challenging art that makes people consider what the Māori world should look like today. I want to transform what we view as customary Māori arts by making them relevant to contemporary audiences.
In particular my interest in the art of tā moko, or Māori tattooing is about transforming the way we see ourselves as Māori. Tā moko is a complex and meaningful art form that has a long history in Māori culture. Keeping this art form alive is about challenging the stereotypes and misconceptions that people have about tā moko that we carry on our bodies by ensuring we include the present and future in our dialogue around what constitutes our authentic selves.
I believe that Māori arts have the power to transform lives, providing a sense of identity, pride, and belonging with the capacity to heal intergenerational trauma.
I am excited to see what the future holds for Māori arts and believe that moving together as a community will provide opportunities for Māori art to resonate in meaningful ways in a changing world. I am committed to using my skills and experience to promote Māori arts and to ensure that they have a bright future. Māori arts are our most valuable asset to Māori and to Aotearoa, New Zealand, and I am proud to be a part of this community.
“My art is about how Māori might reclaim their voice in contemporary space and time, it is a deeply spiritual exploration, often political, exploring the tensions of being Māori today"
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