TE Pupuke (The Swelling) is one of a series of four original oil on canvas paintings created by upcoming artist Rongomaiaia Te Whaiti, of Palmerston North, for her debut exhibition in Toi o Tahuna Fine Art Gallery.
Te Whaiti, now in her final year studying for a master's degree at Massey University, will be at the gallery in Rees St on Friday to introduce her show titled ''Te Whare Wananga - The House of Learning and Knowledge''.
The paintings are self-portraits inspired by narratives from her home, the Wairarapa, and the Maori concept of ''wananga'', a process she says is of storing, learning and teaching tribal knowledge.
''When we gather we talk, and the talking itself is a gathering in momentum, then the thoughts, like dust, eventually settle,'' Te Whaiti said.
Gallery owner Mark Moran said he had been impressed by the artist's previous work.
''I considered it extremely high quality given her early stage in her career and she's highly regarded by her mentors at Massey,'' Mr Moran said.
• Meet the artist and view her artworks in Toi o Tahuna on Friday at 5.30pm.
