SARA TAUTUKU ORME
Sara Tautuku Orme, (Ngāti Awa,Ngāti Tarāwhai, Te Arawa, Pakeha) based in Aotearoa New Zealand.
After completing a degree in Sociology, majoring in Feminist studies & Ethnicity, (Canterbury University 1987) she later went on to study photography (1993) with a focus on research, documentary and portrait photography.
Sara Tautuku Orme has reclaimed the cameras ability to observe, turning it into an anti-colonial , anti patriarchal device, through creating works that celebrate her patrilineal heritage (Ngāti Awa,Ngāti Tarāwhai, Te Arawa) and matrilineal heritage, celebrating the histories of feminism. This action has been inspired by the way in which Orme’s life has been defined by the complexities of her own self-portrait:
Orme’s first pioneering project, This Is Not The Red Carpet, (1993) emerged from her immersion of third wave feminism ain the 90's.
Te Teko (2009- )has been a decade long and ongoing. Te Teko project began soon after the death of her Father ,and explores the small populated community of which himself, and five generations before them were born.
Responding to the life around her, Stroke,(or Ward DG) gives light to her seventy nine year old mother, with so much vitality and intelligence, grappling with new life after her stroke.
Orme’s work is both an investigation of sociological landscapes of both herself and those around her. Her community, feminism and family continue to be central to her work.
Orme is currently working on Ko Toku Awa. Ko te awa ko au -I am the river and the river is me.
The awa (river) is a toanga (treasure) towards identity and is the mauri (life force) of the indigenous people of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Our awa is the life giver of all things. It is water in its purest form and has the power to give life, sustain wellbeing and counteract evil. Ko Toku Awa- is part of an ongoing project exploring the spiritual connection with whenua (land), tupuna(ancestors) and wairua (spirit). Ko Toku Awa draws strongly on the complexity of colonialism in Aotearoa New Zealand, The Raupatu, (land theft) consequences of dislocation and assumes norms that are referenced from history, memory, and whenua (land) .
Select exhibitions
2022, Rangi-TeTeko, Caelum Gallery. New York
2022, The Portrait, Blindside, PHOTO 2022 International Festival of Photography, Melbourne
2022, Kaha, Ellen Melville centre, Womens Work, Auckland, New Zealand
2021, Underexposed, Ellen Melville centre, Womens Work, Auckland, New Zealand
2021, Look to the future with progressive ideals Thistle Hall, Women In Photography NZ_AU, Wellington, New Zealand
2021, Te Teko Womens Work Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland.
2020, She Once Said, Womens Work Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland
2016, Redemption,The Keep, Auckland
2011, Koha Te Papa, In collaboration with Ngai Tahu, Wellington
2004, Aotea Barbi, Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA), Christchurch, NZ.
Select awards, select features, press, publications, interviews
2021, What happened to the Maunga, Essay by Matariki Williams
2021, Guest speaker, Womens Work,
2020, Critics Choice Award Winner, Charlotte Cotton Lensculture, New York
2020, A different Lens Panel talk. Imbalance of gender in the photographic industry. Womens Work Aotearoa
2020, D-photo A pioneer in photography
2020, Growing Up Blonde and Maori
2019 Fissure & women in photography, Auckland Festival of Photography panel talk.
2019, Behind the lens of a female photojournalist. Auckland Festival of Photography artist talk.
Memberships
AIPA Vice President
Photoforum
Women In Photography Aotearoa-Australia
Womens Work Aotearoa
Nga Tamaoki me Ngati Tarawhai Ki Ruaihona
Education
University of Canterbury, Bachelor of Art History, Sociology-Feminist Studies , Ethnicity, Christchurch, New Zealand
Unitec,-Auckland .Diploma in photography. School of Photography, Auckland, new Zealand