In 1993 Brierley Investments purchased a collection 34 original oil on canvas portraits of kuia with moko, painted by artist Harry Sangl in the early 1970s. They were promised to be returned to Maori and made accessible to the New Zealand public. A year later the paintings were put in the care of the Kuia Moko Trust, but their present whereabouts are a mystery and Sangl and his daughter Michaela have been trying to find them. Many of the kuia were of Tūhoe descent and Sangl developed a close bond with each, some of whom were over 100-years-old when he painted them. Sangl turned 97 last week and Depot Artspace in Devonport, Auckland, in partnership with Sangl and Michaela, will be exhibiting prints on canvas of the original works. The exhibition opens on March 2.
23 Feb 2019
