Nathan Pōhio

Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāi Tahu

Based in Ōtautahi

An artist, curator and founding member of Paemanu, Nathan Pōhio has contributed to the rich landscape of Māori art for the last three decades, primarily working in lens-based media. Nathan first worked in whenua pigments in the late 90’s, with Mark Lander for Limbs Dance Company. In 1996, he made an experimental video incorporating whenua painting by his tūpuna. Around 2017/18, he began visiting some of the many mark-making sites, along the mahinga kai routes of his tūpuna with Paemanu led by Ross Hemera. Sourcing whenua from Te Rae Kura in 2019 Nathan exhibited A Bucket of Mud and a Stick at NEXT Gallery. When gifted a range of whenua colours from Ōnawe, a second series of works were produced at Ōtakou Marae for the group show 20/20 Rocks at Jonathan Smart Gallery. Nathan’s paintings linger in a space informed by discussions concerning the mark making of his tūpuna, studies of geometric kowhaiwhai painting, taniko and early 20th century abstraction.

All images below are from the Jonathan Smart Gallery website