Brett Graham conceives of his Māori whakapapa as a Pasifika/Moana identity affiliated with a global network of indigenous and non-Western peoples. From this foundation, his work engages with histories of imperialism and global indigenous issues.

The British colonisation of Graham’s homeland, Aotearoa New Zealand, during the era of European expansionism was a process predicated on assumptions of racial, religious, cultural and technical superiority. Presented in this Triennial, the works in Graham’s Tai Moana Tai Tangata provide portals to this time.

Five arresting sculptures speak to structures created by both the British and Māori during the New Zealand wars. Deeply researched to ensure that they directly address Tainui and Taranaki Māoris’ experiences of British occupation, each of these works is superbly crafted, with materials carefully selected to ensure a strong physical and spiritual resonance for Māori.