Background
She attributes Dame Rangimarie Hetet, Diggeress Te Kanawa and Emily Schuster as major influences but states her mother, Matekino Lawless as being her most significant teacher.
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Christina Wirihana
Edit ProfileCareer
Wirihana is currently a senior lecturer at Toihoukura, a Māori visual arts school within the Eastern Institute of Technology. Her weaving is often an exploration of natural materials and processes. "In my weaving I am continually inspired by the surrounds of my maunga (mountain) Matawhaura, moana tapu Rotoiti (Lake Rotoiti), my marae Taurua and especially my whanau (family)."
Wirihana is the Chairperson of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa (National Collective of Māori Weavers in New Zealand).
In 2014 this collective of weavers exhibited 49 tukutuku panels in Kāhui Raranga: The Art of Tukutuku at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
These panels are to be installed early 2015 at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New New York Wirihana has received numerous funding from Creative New Zealand to develop new work and travel overseas for residencies, the most recent being a 2014 artist residency in Hawaii.
In 2003 Wirihana received Te Tohu Toi Kē from Te Waka Toi Creative New Zealand for making a positive development within Māori arts Wirihana has exhibited, attended symposia and residencies both nationally and internationally including:
2014 Māori Art Market Wellington
2009 Plastic Māori The Dowse Art Museum
2006 Artist Residency Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington
1998 Kanak Cultural Centre, Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre Nouméa
1992 Seven Māori Weavers Christchurch
1991 Ngā Kaupapa Here Aho Te Taumata, Auckland
1991 Te Moemoea nō Iotefa Sarjent Gallery, Whanagnui
1990 Ngā wahine Toa Rotoruatamati
1990 Kohia Ko Taikaka Anake National Art Gallery Wellington.
Membership
Wirihana is a lifelong member of the Māori Women's Welfare League.
