Who Am I
“through my practice I aim to celebrate the materials of te taiao as taonga.”
Takatāpui (LGBTQIA+) designer and artist Avara Moody (they/she) is the creative force behind Avara Studio. Through their multidisciplinary practice Avara explores the language and sacredness of the interconnectivity between tangata (people) and te taiao (the natural world). Avara expresses this relationship by utilising elements drawn from te taiao - uku (clay), whenua (land), kōwhai, muka and other materials to create unique artworks, objects and adornments. Each piece an embodiment of whakapapa (origin), expression of Māori cosmology, and finally Te Ao Mārama (the world we know today). All of Avara’s works are handmade in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).
Artist Origins
| Ethnicity | Māori, Samoan, New Zealand European |
|---|---|
| Tribe/Iwi | Tainui, Te Rarawa |