Sarah Holten received the Te Tohu Iho Pūmanawa award for her remarkable mixed-media artistry.
Holten, an artist of Ngāti Maniapoto and Tūwharetoa descent, passed away shortly before she was to receive Te Tohu Iho Pūmanawa and was celebrated posthumously at Te Waka Toi Awards.
Lisa Holten, her mother, accepted the award on her behalf.
"Sarah's journey from a simple pastime to becoming the artist she was always meant to be has been nothing short of inspiring," she said.
- 𝘗𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘪 - 𝘔𝘢̄𝘰𝘳𝘪 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘡𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥
(Please read The Big Idea's tribute below to Māpura’s wonderful friend, artist and colleague Sarah Holten. Click on the link below.)
https://thebigidea.nz/stories/gone-but-not-forgotten-emotional-night-at-te-waka-toi-awards
For further Information on the awards and recepients, please follow link below to RNZ’s article;
Māori art awards: Theater and film actor Rangimoana Taylor wins Supreme Award | RNZ News
Sarah Holten 1993 - 2023
Sarah was a Māori artist who faced significant challenges due to her complex disability. Sarah lived with Rett syndrome, and due to this, Sarah was non-verbal and had no autonomous use of her hands. However, this didn’t stop Sarah from becoming an established artist in the disability and mainstream sectors.
Sarah developed into a confident and dynamic artist, capable of exhibiting works and capturing audiences in the wider Auckland art scene. Sarah’s time at Māpura Studio over the past nine years led to special social connections and friendships.
Her work is mixed-media and is grounded in expressive mark-making techniques. Having no autonomous use of her hands, Sarah employed a range of techniques, including a head pointer and eye gaze technology and the movement of her whole body to create a variety of marks to create her work. Through a combination of colours and marks, Sarah’s work delights in its complexity, expression, and mood.
Sarah is an inspiration to all in her community and whanau, as she demonstrates with her paintings and artworks that nothing held her back from achieving. Her influence exists in the inspiration she provides to those who experience her work. Being a visible artist in both the disability and general spheres demonstrates that there are no limits to what is possible as a Māori artist with a disability.
Sarah Holten - Gottmick 2021
Sarah Holten - Spark Dreaming 2023
Sarah Hotlen 1993 - 2023
Sarah worked at home, in her Parnell studio, in the creative environment of Māpura Studios, as well as having had residency at Te Tuhi.
Sarah has just been awarded the Te Tohu Iho Pūmanawa 2023 Creative New Zealand first place.
Selected exhibitions:
2023 Tangata Moana: Tātou tātou e – various Libraries across Tāmaki Makaurau
2023 Matariki – Catch a Falling Star – Alberton House
2022 IHC Art Awards Second place Overall Winner
2022 Matariki - Wish Upon a Star – Alberton House
2022 Just My Imagination – Pah Homestead
2021 Māpura Online Exhibition
2020 Give Me a Minute – Pah Homestead
2019 A Thousand Stories – Charity Auction with John Gow and Māpura Studios
2019 Press Any Key – Studio One
2018 Mana Taurite - Women’s Suffrage Exhibition – Mangere Art Centre
