Intaglio dry point etching in black frame

Frame: 470mm x 645mm

Edition of 10

Signed by artist on Fabriano paper

Te Raranga Tuku Iho reflects the things we carry physically, emotionally, and generationally. The kete — a woven backpack — operates as both a practical object and an important symbol in te ao Māori, a vessel of knowledge, responsibility, and inheritance. In this work, Nyle considers the dual nature of the kete: a vessel of depth and care. What do we inherit, and what do we choose to pack?
Through material, form, and repetition, ‘Te Raranga Tuku Iho’ becomes a meditation on whakapapa, labour, and the unseen weight of cultural memory. It serves as a reminder of those who carried before us and extends an invitation to consider what we will carry forward.

Nyle Turuwhenua’s work is strongly influenced by her connection to her Māori heritage. Developing skills as a weaver has been an important catalyst in her personal and artistic development, exploring ideas about identity and cultural heritage. Her printmaking encapsulates ideas surrounding kaitiakitanga, guardianship and connection. In Nyle’s work, birds and weaving play a key role in the act of kaitiakitanga.