Heke Rua Archives co-designer recognised as Arts Laureate
Congratulations to Rangi Kipa, co-designer and Pūkenga Toi for Heke Rua Archives, who is one of eight artists recognised as 2021 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates.
Hinerangi Himiona, Tāhuhu Principal Advisor, says, “We have been incredibly fortunate to have such a talented designer and artist onboard to co-design the new Archives building in Wellington alongside architects Warren & Mahoney. Rangi is an artist and designer who graciously accepted an invitation from his Wellington based relatives to lend his talent, knowledge and design experience to the new Archives building and we’re proud that his many achievements have been acknowledged.”
Rangi Kipa (Te Ātiawa, Taranaki, Ngāti Tama ki te Tauihu) is a renowned Māori sculptural artist who uses his earlier Social Science degree training to influence and bring a Maori lens in to build our environments.
He says “Our communication language systems, from spacial design to our diverse visual vernacular, have the ability to decolonise this country. The Co-Design methodology gives our country an opportunity to see and hear our ancestral voices speak through our continuum of creative expressions in all their diversity. To do this I draw on customary Māori cultural language and knowledge systems as a way to reconcile the past to meet the aspirations that Māori have for the future.”
Rangi Kipa’s work spans intricately crafted whale ivory taonga to large architectural projects. His interest in creating legacy spaces led him to take the role as co-designer for the New Plymouth Airport building and co-designer and Pūkenga Toi on the new Archives building in Wellington.
Rangi describes his involvement as co-designer on the new Archives building as personally significant as this is on the ancestral Pipitea Pā site, one of the major strongholds of Te Ātiawa in Pōneke Wellington.
TVNZ news interviewed Rangi Kipa about his work, which included mention of the new Archives building and documentary heritage campus.
Rangi was also conceptual creative lead on the redevelopment of New Zealand’s New Plymouth regional airport. The airport named Te Hono – meaning “to connect” – has become a finalist in the Prix Versailles Airports 2021 awards. The story has been reported by The Guardian and has captured the world’s imagination.
Find out more about the Heka Rua Archives (HRA) Project and the Tāhuhu Programme on our Tāhuhu staff hub.
