Manu Tioriori (Voice of the Rangatahi)
Bio
Six rangatahi – Pop, Twiggy, Goldie, Miller, Jay, and Jude – bring their own perspectives into Mōwai through self-portraits that reflect who they are in this moment. These works are more than drawings; they are statements of identity, belonging, and resilience.
By placing their faces and voices alongside the wider exhibition, the portraits honour the importance of rangatahi in our community’s story. Their contributions remind us that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but are deeply impacted by today’s challenges and carry unique insights into our shared future.
Through these self-portraits, we see how creativity can give space for rangatahi to speak in their own ways – with colour, with line, and with courage. Their presence in Mōwai ensures the kaupapa is grounded in the next generation, weaving youthful voices into the collective response to climate, whenua, and community wellbeing.
Description
These self-portraits by Pop, Twiggy, Goldie, Miller, Jay, and Jude burst with colour, energy, and individuality. Each portrait is a playful exploration of identity – bold strokes, bright palettes, and imaginative details that capture the personalities of the rangatahi behind them.
The works celebrate the freedom of youthful expression, showing how colour can be used not just to represent faces, but to express feelings, moods, and a sense of self. Together, the portraits form a vibrant chorus of rangatahi voices – reminding us that creativity can be a powerful tool for young people to tell their stories, to be seen, and to stand alongside their whānau and community.
Social - @daynararoa & @pundy22
Contact - daynararoa@gmail.com & p.mullany@hotmail.com
Link to research
My fabric banner reflects the feelings many have about the changing weather and how it affects our everyday lives. The phrase “rain anxiety” is sewn into my fabric banner, along with the face and rain clouds sewn into the piece, which captures that mix of emotions and uncertainty we experience when the weather shifts. It’s a quiet reminder of how deeply connected we are to the environment - something along these lines?
