The talented Story Morehouse
Photograph of Story and her mum next to ‘Koata’
This week, we caught up with the very talented Story Morehouse. Story is a Wi Neera and Elkington by whakapapa, her grandparents are Rawiri and Winifred Hemi on her mum’s side.
Story is currently home in Aotearoa from the sunny Yugumbeh Country of Australia. Her beautiful animated depiction of ‘Koata’ was entered into the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards. Story was a finalist in the awards and attended the award evening on Wednesday night at Pipitea Marae.
The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award is a biennial competition that encourages emerging Māori artists to create portraits of their tūpuna (ancestors) in any medium.
The basis for her piece ‘Koata’ was created in one day. However, it took months of tweaking, test prints and colour balances before the final design was sent to an Auckland printer, to be printed, framed and then entered into the competition.
While researching Koata for her piece. Story came across many kōrero and tales that resonated with her. She wanted to be able to portray Koata in a meaningful way, to show her femininity and power and how she had the strength to move away from things that no longer served her. She hopes that she has achieved this.
Story is a freelance illustrator and studied for a Bachelor's in Animation. Most of her work is in digital form and illustrating children’s books is her passion. She hopes that one day she will be able to work on a collaborative series of children’s book’s based on iwi stories.
Story has been relishing her time in Aoteavisitingting with whānau. She was able to attend an early morning blessing by Ngāti Toa at Te Papa earlier this week and a performance by the revived Ngāti Toa kapa haka roopu, which has been extra special.
The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Exhibition and Peoples Choice Award remains open at the NZ Portrait Gallery in Wellington from May 25th through August 20th. The exhibition then hits the road for two years and can be viewed at Galleries across Aotearoa.
The Forsyth Barr People’s Choice Award ($2,500 prize) will be decided by votes from Gallery visitors and announced on the final day of the exhibition, August 20.