“Controversy Erupts as Non-Māori Artist’s Indigenous Work Sparks Heated Debate Over Cultural Identity”
In a wild twist of events, a white-presenting woman from New Zealand found herself in the hot seat after claiming she was shut out from an exhibition exclusively showcasing Māori artists—simply because she isn’t part of the indigenous community. Imagine putting your heart into a painting only to get told, “Sorry, but you don’t belong to the club!” It’s like trying to crash a VIP party, only to realize you forgot the password. Earlier this month, Ivana Gardner took to TikTok to defend her mother, painter Hazel Hunt, after the art gallery turned her away for not qualifying as Māori. The backlash was swift and fierce, as people voiced their disbelief at what many saw as a clear case of entitlement. A video of the situation, featuring Hazel’s portrait of a Māori woman, went viral and sparked a discourse about cultural appropriation and representation in the art world. If this isn’t a wake-up call for a healthy reflection on who gets to tell whose story, I don’t know what is… Curious to dive deeper into this cultural fracas? LEARN MORE.
A white-presenting woman from New Zealand claimed that she was barred from exhibiting her painting at an exhibition presenting MÄori artists, because she isnât part of the indigenous community. A video showing her painting â a portrait of a MÄori woman â faced significant backlash, with many people denouncing her apparent entitlement.
Earlier this month, a woman who goes by Ivana Gardner took to her TikTok page to defend her mom, painter Hazel Hunt, whom she claimed had been rejected by an art gallery, âbecause sheâs not MÄori.â
Although the original video has since been deleted, TikToker Lydia Tuaiti stitched Ivanaâs clip, which showcased Hazel standing in front of her portrait of a MÄori woman.
In the video, Ivana could be heard behind the camera saying: âShe looks more beautiful in the painting than she does in real life,â to which Hazel could be heard replying: âShe does.â
A white-presenting woman from New Zealand claimed that she was barred from exhibiting her paintingÂ
Image credits: artist_hazelhunt
The original video amassed millions of views and hundreds of comments attempting to explain that âwhite people do not need to occupy every single space,â before it was finally removed from TikTok.
In response, Lydia, who clarified that she is a non-MÄori parent to MÄori children, agreed with the criticism, highlighting Hazelâs sense of âentitlementâ.
âShe had a MÄori woman, but she wasn’t a MÄori artist, you didn’t meet the criteria,â Lydia said, before noting how âyuckyâ it was for the mother and daughter to say that the portrait looked better than the real woman who was the subject of Hazelâs painting.
Image credits: artist_hazelhunt
âAnd the painting is actually eurocentrified beauty standard,â Lydia added. She then admitted: âMy personal opinion is I wouldn’t want the energy that came with that art piece in my house for my kids.âÂ
While Ivana deleted prior videos related to her momâs controversial painting, Hazel has shared her portrait of the MÄori woman multiple times on her Instagram, drawing further backlash.
The Auckland-based painter seemingly first introduced the portrait in 2022, and was already facing some heat, as an Instagram user called her art an âembarrassment.â
It was an exhibition presenting MÄori artists’ work
Image credits: artist_hazelhunt
After she shared the portrait again in 2023, another person wrote that it was âcringeâ. In March 2024, Hazel stirred a slew of negative feedback again on Instagram, as a viewer penned: âFirst of all, pronounce MÄori properly before you appropriate our culture for monetary benefit.
âSecondly, she does not look more beautiful in the painting, her features have been colonised by your eyes and paint brushes. Just stick to what you know sis!â
A separate individual chimed in: âCanât even say MÄori and want to profit off painting our culture, how cringe.â
Image credits: artist_hazelhunt
According to Krystal Warren, a senior lecturer at Massey University, incidents where white-identifying individuals appropriate spaces curated for marginalized communities, such MÄori people in New Zealand, often occur.
âYes, [it happens a lot],â she told Bored Panda in an email. [Itâs a] symptom of settler colonialism.
MÄori settled in New Zealand from East Polynesia from the eleventh century onwards, Minority Rights Group explains.Â
The artist was barred because sheâs not part of the indigenous community
Image credits: artist_hazelhunt
As Europeans settled in New Zealand in the 19th century, MÄori, as individuals and communities, were the subject of racism and discrimination, according to Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
The intolerance of most white people was based less on an assumption of genetic superiority than of cultural superiority, the Encyclopedia states.
As per the Encyclopedia, the conversion of MÄori to Christianity, the usurping of their resources (notably land for farming by settlers) and the growing dominance of the institutions of the New Zealand state were based on beliefs about the superiority of European civilization.
Image credits: artist_hazelhunt
This was also based on the perceived backwardness of MÄori culture. Moreover, MÄori schooling was based on the assumption that MÄori were capable of becoming westernized as âhonorary whites.â
Professor Warren pointed to a similar controversy that unfolded with an exhibition of Dutch-New Zealand artist Theo Schoon in 2019, which set off a debate about the place of racially problematic work in public spaces.Â
âPresenting Schoonâs work now involves facing up to a series of issues,â Skinner and Aaron Lister, who curated the exhibition, wrote in a catalog.
TikToker Lydia agreed with criticism highlighting the painter’s sense of âentitlementâ
@ifoundlydia theres alot you could unpack but this is why its important to support MÄori artist if you are buying MÄori art specifically. We are wanting to create safe spaces for our kids and art inheriently brings energy into their space. #tewikiotereomaori#maoritiktok#nzartist#nzfyp#greenscreenvideo#nzmum ⬠original sound – Lydia Tuaiti
They continued: âThe most urgent is his appropriation of MÄori art. The colonialist â at times, patently racist â ideas underpinning his project are difficult to see past from a contemporary perspective.Â
âThere are legitimate questions as to whether such work should be given time and space now and if an exhibition such as this necessarily endorses or excuses such attitudes.Â
âMÄori art certainly did not need or ask for Schoon to be its savior â this was a delusional and potentially harmful position to adopt.â
Bored Panda has contacted Hazel for comment.
“I feel like she could just submit it to a different gallery,” a TikTok user responded
The post âWhiteâ Womanâs Indigenous Art Rejected From Exhibit Because She Isnât MÄori first appeared on Bored Panda.
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