“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
