Ka tangi te Puukekokeko noo Mangarara ka tangi anoo hoki ko au
Tihei Mauri ora
Ko Tararua te maunga
Ko Waiohine me Ruamahanga ngā awa
Ko Papawai te Pa
Ko ngā iwi o te Tai Rawhiti Rongomaiwahine Kahungunu
Rangitane me Ngai Tahu, me Werehi ooku iwi
Ko Nerys Ngaruhe ahau
Born in 1994, Nerys grew up in both Aotearoa and Cymru/Wales, and is currently based in Te Ika aa Maaui, Aotearoa.
Nerys' mahi toi/artwork is heavily influenced by the social injustices created by Colonization from both a māori/cymraeg perspective. Her intentions with Art is to restore indigenous histories and knowledge, and to weave the worlds of fine and applied art together.
Nerys is continually researching and creating bodies of works reflecting on Māoridom, Cymraeg/Welsh culture, authentic native history and how it relates to local geography. This is portrayed through various forms including Karawhiti/Graffiti, whakairo/carving, portraits, papawīra/skateboards, Rauemi/resources, and kākahu hanga rua mā te ringa/handmade clothing using recycled materials.
Having received the 2018 Te Manu Piirere Award for Emerging Maaori Artist at Te Papa Museum from Creative NZ, Nerys went on to establish several pakihi toi/art businesses including Active Graffiti Evolvement (A.G.E). For the previous 4 years A.G.E has been commissioned by local councils to transform tags throughout the community into toi maaori. Her most recent highlights have been working with students to create graffiti murals at their schools, including Nerys' former primary school in Pennard, Abertawe/Swansea.
