Little River Gallery will open a new exhibition by renowned Māori artist Robin Slow on July 4, showcasing a series of works deeply rooted in Māori creation stories and cultural heritage. Titled Ki te Ao Mārama (The World of Light and Understanding), the exhibition explores themes such as whakapapa (genealogy), pūrākau (traditional narratives), and the relationship between people and the natural world.

Robin Slow, originally from Wairau and educated in Christchurch, has had a long career spanning artistic practice, education, and cultural work. For over three decades, he taught visual arts and design at Golden Bay High School while simultaneously developing artwork inspired by mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and community involvement. His extensive portfolio includes collaborations with Onetahua Marae’s whānau in Mohua, where since 1991 he has contributed to murals, kōwhaiwhai patterns, carving, and taonga pūoro (traditional Māori musical instruments) projects. He also led the decade-long design process for the marae’s wharenui, Te Ao Mārama.

Slow has gained recognition for collaborative touring exhibitions with taonga pūoro maker Brian Flintoff and musician Bob Bickerton, combining visual art with sound, storytelling, and performance across New Zealand. His works are held in private and public collections both domestically and internationally.

Ki te Ao Mārama centers on the foundational Māori narrative of Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Earth Mother) and their children’s act of separating earth and sky, which allowed light into the world. Through layered paintings and use of diverse materials such as gold leaf, kokowai (red ochre), silica, and handmade harakeke (flax) paper, Slow illustrates a progression from darkness to illumination, culminating in māramatanga—understanding and enlightenment. Each material carries cultural significance, enhancing the stories and symbolism embedded in his work.

More than a traditional art exhibition, Ki te Ao Mārama represents a lifetime of engagement with Māori histories, narratives, and identity, offering visitors insight into te ao Māori through Slow’s artistic lens. The exhibition will be on display from July 4 to 27 at Little River Gallery on Banks Peninsula, with an opening event scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 4. The gallery encourages all interested members of the public to attend.