ABOUT TANIA
Tania Lewis-Rickard, Ngati Kahungunu, Tūhoe, Pākeha, Walsh, Irish:
Lewis Rickard is an artist, art educator, community advocate, humanitarian and founder of ‘Kai Aroha - Feeding Our Hungry Community’ a non-profit charity, designed to combat food poverty by providing nourishing meals to those in need of kai.
Lewis-Rickard holds a Diploma in Commercial Design and Māori Visual Arts from Waiariki Polytechnic - Rotorua; received her Graduate Diploma in Secondary school teacher training at Waikato University, and also holds a post Draduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts from Toi Oho ki Apiti - Massey University. This has led to a long career in education where she now teaches Visual Arts at Pāpāmoa College, and is also the curriculum Leader of the Visual Arts. Lewis-Rickard’s dedication extends beyond her classroom as she serves as the Visual Arts regional co-rep for ANZAAE, solidifying her commitment to supporting secondary school art teachers while fostering creativity and artistic expression within her community.
Lewis-Rickard primarily works in mixed media painting and photography while also working with Multi-Media. Her art journey began as a small child when she became intriguingly interested in structures and buildings which influenced her desire to create artworks that paid homage to a vernacular Aotearoa, exploring architectural sculpture and design and their connection with the heavenly realms, the whenua and the space within and between. She still continues to paint works of art that represent kaupapa that is important to her Christian belief systems, her taha Māori, social community interests and her whānau. Lewis-Rickard also incorporates multi-media techniques into her art works such as photography and video to create light box paintings and abstraction video work. This demonstrates her versatility and dedication to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
“I am committed to using my art to make a difference in the world. I hope to inspire others to reflect on their own privileged lives and to take action to help those in need.”
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I am deeply passionate about using my creative abilities to make a positive impact in the community. I strive to make a difference and contribute to the social good of all humanity through the visual arts.
One of the most pressing issues facing our society today is homelessness. In Aotearoa, one in six kiwis have been homeless or living in temporary emergency housing. This is a complex issue with many contributing factors, including housing shortages, job losses, food inflation, and stigma.
My work focuses on shedding light on this growing societal issue and challenging the stereotypes and misconceptions that surround homelessness. I believe that art has the power to ignite change, activate community engagement, and increase awareness in a way that perhaps other media cannot.
Through my work, I attempt to show the other side of homelessness. I want to share the stories of real people who are struggling, and to create a space for empathy and understanding. I believe that when we see each other as human beings, it becomes much more difficult to turn away from the suffering of others.
I am committed to using my art to make a difference in the world. I hope to inspire others to reflect on their own privileged lives and to take action to help those in need.
“He aha te mea nui o te ao, he tangata”
The most important thing in the world is people.
“My art is about how Māori might reclaim their voice in contemporary space and time, it is a deeply spiritual exploration, often political, exploring the tensions of being Māori today"
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