Photos make Ringa Toi cut

Despite only beginning to study photography this year, an Ōtepoti teen already has her work on display at Te Papa.

Lydia Tumaru (Kāi Tahu), who goes to school at Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu, this week learned her photographs were chosen for the annual Ringa Toi exhibition at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.

The exhibition features the artworks of secondary school students with a focus on Māori and Pacific arts at excellence level.

"It’s kind of hard to find the words because of how proud I am of myself," the 17-year-old said. 

"Because this is actually my first year doing photography, I was like ‘I don’t know if I can do it’."

Lydia said she never expected her work to be selected.

"I just thought it was just going to be a normal project. I didn’t expect it to be like a whole thing about going up to Wellington."

 

The five black-and-white images are of shark teeth, tattoo machines, a piece of art given to her father and a tā moko (traditional Māori tattoo) being prepared.

 

With her image of shark teeth she wanted viewers to get the "powerful message" of kaua e mate wheke mate ururoa — which translates to "don’t die like an octopus; die like a hammerhead shark".

 

"You get the powerful meaning of how a shark fights back and how the octopus would just give up."

 

Her photography was influenced by her whakapapa, including her father who was a tā moko artist.

 

"It’s also about me overcoming my anxiety."

 

The shark teeth partnered well with the tā moko image in one display, she said.

 

The second display was of two tattoo machines and a sculptural piece of her father’s that he was given, she said.

 

Her photos were part of the Toi Matihiko (digital print where the reproduction processes have been completed by computer) category in the exhibition.

 

"I’m quite happy about it — like I actually didn’t expect it at all. So it makes me feel really amazing and proud of myself and I’m forever grateful."

 

The exhibition opened yesterday and runs until September 27.

 

At this stage, she had no plans to go to Wellington to see the exhibition in person, which she was "gutted" about, but the experience had encouraged her to carry on with her art.

 

"Hopefully, I can continue and maybe even make a career out of photography."