Lisa Tumahai
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Waewae, Makaawhio
Joined the exhibition in Hokitika in May 2022.
Reflecting on her life’s pathway and role as Kaiwhakahaere, chair of Ngāi Tahu, Lisa acknowledges with deep gratitude the critical people who nurtured and mentored her on her leadership journey.
From giving birth to menopause, she reflects on the resilience it takes to overcome some of the challenges many women experience in a life time.
Follow the exhibition’s journey here:
PHOTO PORTRAIT DESCRIPTION
Lisa looks at us with her mouth closed and a faint smile seeming to play across her lips, dimples in her cheeks. Her eyes look out at us through rounded black rimmed glasses.
Her brown hair has honey tints and is swept back on the right, hanging over her left ear, just reaching the top of her greenstone or pounamu earrings. These taonga are twisted spirals ending in a point about 4cm long which hang from each ear.
She wears a dark teal or blue-green top high around her neck and ending at the elbow with white flowers picked out in delicate lacy details all over it. Hanging on a long cord over her chest is a curved pekapeka pounamu that arcs up and folds back creating symmetrical curves and open chambers. It gleams in the light.
She is framed by the green of multiple fern fronds.
Hokitika Exhibition May 2022
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