An exhibition exploring the role of Maori in World War I is on display at Art + Body Studio in Mount Maunganui.

Created by artist Tawhai Rickard, the mixed-medium exhibition ‘Te Ope Tuatahi' will be shown at the Maunganui Road studio until July 2.

Artist Tawhai Rickard with one of his artworks that features in his latest exhibition Te Ope Tuatahi on display at Mount Maunganui's Art + Body Studio. Photo: Tawhai Rickard.

The exhibition's title is taken from a song composed by Sir Apirana Ngata in 1916 to promote and stimulate the enlistment of Maori soldiers during WWI.

'This body of work reflects the psychology of the Maori towards warfare,” explains Tawhai, 'touching on the period of early contact with Britain and giving special focus toward the Great War.”

Te Ope Tuatahi looks at the two founding peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand during this early period and uses narratives, symbolism and old world aesthetics to speak to the viewer.

Each work touches on areas like cultural appropriation, cultural unity and Maori loyalty to 'God, King and Country”.

'We don't seem to know much about our own history,” adds Tawhai. 'I thought it appropriate to tell our story of WWI from a Maori point of view, seeing as this year is the centennial.”

Tawhai says he's drawn influence from the folk art paintings found on one of his Whare Tipuna (ancestral house) ‘Hinetapora', which is located about 2.5km East of the Ruatoria township.

Having known these paintings since childhood, Tawhai connects with them on many levels.

'I enjoy their spiritual, abstract, expressive nature and love the process of painting in this style because it simply unfolds before my eyes.”

‘Te Ope Tuatahi' is on display at Art + Body Studio at 229B Maunganui Road until July 2.