Sight Lines: Women and Art in Aotearoa
by Kirsty Baker
From Rita Angus to Merata Mita, Fiona Clark to Mataaho Collective, Sight Lines tells the story of art made by women in Aotearoa.
This is an important book that celebrates painters, weavers, sculptors, photographers, poets, activists, textile artists and performers.
The substantial text-heavy book of 430 pages celebrates 35 extraordinary women artists from Aotearoa. It includes over 150 illustrations and is written by art historian and curator, Dr Kirsty Baker from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Baker is the perfect person to write this book as her thesis through Victoria University of Wellington — Te Herenga Waka, ‘Constituting the “Woman Artist”: A Feminist Genealogy of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Art History 1928–1989’ — was awarded a place on the prestigious Doctoral Dean’s List for 2020.
In a recent interview with NZ Booklovers, Baker was asked what inspired her to write the book. “I’m interested in the shortcomings and exclusions of feminisms, and how we can go about trying to rectify them…I find art itself to be endlessly inspiring so in fundamental terms it was art, and the artists who make it, that really inspired the book”.
Sight Lines includes contributions by Chloe Cull (Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Te Ruahikihiki), Ngarino Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou), Ioana Gordon-Smith (Faleula, Le’auva’a, Pākehā), Rangimarie Sophie Jolley (Waikato-Tainui), Lana Lopesi, Hanahiva Rose (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Toa), Huhana Smith (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) and Megan Tamati-Quennell (Te Āti Awa, Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe) adding a depth of knowledge and perspective.
Examples of these are; Wāhine Māori and the Worlds of Adornment: He toi rākai, he mana wāhine, he mana tāngata – by the arts of adornment, there is the prestige of women and all people, by Ngarino Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou); Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: The revolution reflected by the work of Robyn Kahukiwa, by Rangimarie Sophie Jolley (Waikato-Tainui); and ‘We were making art, which is what we always wanted to do’: Elizabeth Ellis and Mere Lodge, by Chloe Cull (Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Te Ruahikihiki).
Throughout Sight Lines there are three major thematic threads, focusing on how women artists have whanaungatanga (relationships) with whenua (land) and how they express themselves through their art. The second, the term woman itself, is reflected upon in the ways that woman pushed against gendered barriers. Lastly, the thread of speaking back, by looking at the ways that artists have used their practice to speak back to the exclusions and limitations of art history and art institutions.
I found the protest theme a fascinating read. On page 184, Baker writes, “Currents of protests and resistance have always been embedded in artistic practice in Aotearoa. By unpicking this rich seam, we can trace the myriad ways in which the visual, visceral and emotive power of art-making has been harnessed to illuminate urgent socio-political concerns”.
The book has been warmly received. But there has been some debate about the women included and omitted in Sight Lines. Baker stated in an interview on RNZ National Radio, “An attempt on a complete history of women’s art history is doomed to fail”. Clearly not all New Zealand artists can be included, but I was surprised that Gretchen Albrecht CNZM, painter and sculptor, Ans Westra CNZM and Fiona Pardington MNZM, photographers, Kura Te Waru-Rewiri, artist, academic and educator, Raukura Turei, painter and architect and Dagmar Vaikalafi Dyck, a Tongan interdisciplinary artist were not included. In her defense, Baker said, “I didn’t want to include artists without their permission and participation from them and or their whanau”.
Sight Lines has a luxurious fabric book cover with the image body/house in pride of place, by visual artist, poet and film-maker Joanna Margaret Paul. The extensive index, artist notes and detailed glossary adds value to the book.
Sight Lines: Women and Art in Aotearoa, is an excellent asset for any library, school or personal book collection. An inspirational and informative read to motivate future generations of New Zealand artists and to understand their history and what has motivated their work.
by Kirsty Baker
From Rita Angus to Merata Mita, Fiona Clark to Mataaho Collective, Sight Lines tells the story of art made by women in Aotearoa.
This is an important book that celebrates painters, weavers, sculptors, photographers, poets, activists, textile artists and performers.
The substantial text-heavy book of 430 pages celebrates 35 extraordinary women artists from Aotearoa. It includes over 150 illustrations and is written by art historian and curator, Dr Kirsty Baker from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Baker is the perfect person to write this book as her thesis through Victoria University of Wellington — Te Herenga Waka, ‘Constituting the “Woman Artist”: A Feminist Genealogy of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Art History 1928–1989’ — was awarded a place on the prestigious Doctoral Dean’s List for 2020.
In a recent interview with NZ Booklovers, Baker was asked what inspired her to write the book. “I’m interested in the shortcomings and exclusions of feminisms, and how we can go about trying to rectify them…I find art itself to be endlessly inspiring so in fundamental terms it was art, and the artists who make it, that really inspired the book”.
Sight Lines includes contributions by Chloe Cull (Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Te Ruahikihiki), Ngarino Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou), Ioana Gordon-Smith (Faleula, Le’auva’a, Pākehā), Rangimarie Sophie Jolley (Waikato-Tainui), Lana Lopesi, Hanahiva Rose (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Toa), Huhana Smith (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) and Megan Tamati-Quennell (Te Āti Awa, Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe) adding a depth of knowledge and perspective.
Examples of these are; Wāhine Māori and the Worlds of Adornment: He toi rākai, he mana wāhine, he mana tāngata – by the arts of adornment, there is the prestige of women and all people, by Ngarino Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou); Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: The revolution reflected by the work of Robyn Kahukiwa, by Rangimarie Sophie Jolley (Waikato-Tainui); and ‘We were making art, which is what we always wanted to do’: Elizabeth Ellis and Mere Lodge, by Chloe Cull (Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Te Ruahikihiki).
Throughout Sight Lines there are three major thematic threads, focusing on how women artists have whanaungatanga (relationships) with whenua (land) and how they express themselves through their art. The second, the term woman itself, is reflected upon in the ways that woman pushed against gendered barriers. Lastly, the thread of speaking back, by looking at the ways that artists have used their practice to speak back to the exclusions and limitations of art history and art institutions.
I found the protest theme a fascinating read. On page 184, Baker writes, “Currents of protests and resistance have always been embedded in artistic practice in Aotearoa. By unpicking this rich seam, we can trace the myriad ways in which the visual, visceral and emotive power of art-making has been harnessed to illuminate urgent socio-political concerns”.
The book has been warmly received. But there has been some debate about the women included and omitted in Sight Lines. Baker stated in an interview on RNZ National Radio, “An attempt on a complete history of women’s art history is doomed to fail”. Clearly not all New Zealand artists can be included, but I was surprised that Gretchen Albrecht CNZM, painter and sculptor, Ans Westra CNZM and Fiona Pardington MNZM, photographers, Kura Te Waru-Rewiri, artist, academic and educator, Raukura Turei, painter and architect and Dagmar Vaikalafi Dyck, a Tongan interdisciplinary artist were not included. In her defense, Baker said, “I didn’t want to include artists without their permission and participation from them and or their whanau”.
Sight Lines has a luxurious fabric book cover with the image body/house in pride of place, by visual artist, poet and film-maker Joanna Margaret Paul. The extensive index, artist notes and detailed glossary adds value to the book.
Sight Lines: Women and Art in Aotearoa, is an excellent asset for any library, school or personal book collection. An inspirational and informative read to motivate future generations of New Zealand artists and to understand their history and what has motivated their work.
Review by Renee Hollis
Title: Sight Lines: Women and Art in Aotearoa
Author: Kirsty Baker
Publisher: Auckland University Press
ISBN: 9781869409982
RRP: $69.99
Available: bookshops
Author: Kirsty Baker
Publisher: Auckland University Press
ISBN: 9781869409982
RRP: $69.99
Available: bookshops
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