Pāhekoheko (noun) - connection, relationship, association, interaction, combination.
Keri-Mei Zagrobelna’s latest body of work explores her deep connections to Whakatū, her iwi ties, and her long-standing relationship with museums.
Titled, Pāhekoheko—a term that embodies notions of connection, interaction, and association—the exhibition reflects her ongoing inquiry into whakapapa and indigenous reclamation through contemporary jewellery and adornment.
This collection is informed by research at the Nelson Provincial Museum Collection and is anchored in Keri-Mei’s direct lineage to Merenako of Motueka, whose hei tiki, Hei Tiki o Merenako, is displayed within the museum. Through these works, she not only navigates her personal journey of reconnection but also highlights the vital role of public museums and galleries, aligning with the "Keep the Lights On" campaign.
By sharing this process of research and making, Keri-Mei hopes to inspire others to explore their own whakapapa and reconnect with their whānau taonga held within these institutions.
"E hara toku toa, I te toa taki tahi. Engari he toa taki tini"
Keri-Mei Zagrobelna is a full time jeweller and artist, including mahi as a jewellery tutor and arts mentor. She also explores other creative forms, including murals, sculpture, photography, installations, and research. She is based in Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Her work straddles the boundaries of adornment and visual art, always seeking to be unique, expressive, and beautiful. Coming from her practice as a contemporary Māori jeweller, her pieces for personal adornment speak to her experience and upbringing.
Keri-Mei comes from a background entwined in museums and art, worlds in which both her grandmother and mother worked. Her iwi affiliations are Te Ati Awa and Whanau-a-Apanui. In 2012, she graduated from Whitireia with a BaPPa in visual arts. She has exhibited and lectured extensively in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad.
Temporary Exhibition
Date: 13 - 16 April
Price: FREE