Raukura & Moko
Raukura is an Architect at Monk Mackenzie and has a visual practise as a multi-disciplinary artist. Her oil pastel works have been exhibited around the country and she will represent Aotearoa next year at the Tokyo International Art Fair. Raukura is the artist behind our most recent wrapping paper, as well as a series of oil pastel works available online.
Moko is an artist and revivalist of the traditional Maori and Pacific tattoo practice and culture. They live down the road from us in the much loved Freemans Bay housing blocks once coined the ‘Art Ghetto’, where true to its history they often work from home. We are happy to share their wish list with you.
1. Maryse Face Oil
This face oil is so delicious I can’t help covering my face in it every time I’m in the store. I have recently been introduced to face oil as a replacement for night cream and it is such an indulgence for dry skin.
2. Hinoki Bathroom Stool
Our dining table has been absorbed into the corner of our lounge now claimed by my painting ‘studio’. Dinners and almost everything else we do in our apartment happens around our coffee table, a height which is awkwardly low for the couch and awkward high for sitting on the floor. Often we debate the perfect seat for our coffee table and it inevitably comes back to a small stool. The simplicity of the Hinoki stool fools us into thinking we could make these ourselves... we still haven’t.
3. Brass Dinner Bell
Our everyday lives have little time given to a sacred moment. Often we start our day with the ringing of a cellphone which we are then plugged into until we set our alarm to sleep.
This past year I have developed the very indulgent ritual of sleeping in, counter to Moko who has started practicing a morning tea ritual as a meditation. While I love the idea of getting up and joining him in this ritual, the haunt of my alarm reeks of work and resistance. This small sculptural bell is such an indulgent object we would never think to buy ourselves but it could just be the perfect chime to start the day.
4. Classiky Wooden Toolbox
Moko recently purchased a small metal box and inlayed it with foam to carry his uhi (traditional Māori tattooing tools) when travelling. He now has his eye on this beautifully crafted wooden box as the resting place for his tools at the studio.
5. Raukura Turei x EDN original oil pastel works
I have been focusing on my painting practise over the past few years, reawakening a love of drawings and painting from when I was very young. My work come from a place of deep healing and sharing the vulnerability of the human spirit. These original works made for Everyday needs draw on the playful vibrancy of one of our Māori goddess’ Hine-Ruhi whose dancing emulates the flickering light of dawn.
