Kura Puke
Associate Professor - Maori | Te Ranga Tai Kura
Kura Puke (Te Āti Awa, Taranaki, Ngāti Mutunga) is an interdisciplinary artist and academic whose work explores the intersection of mātauranga Māori, light, sound, and emerging technologies. Her practice is deeply collaborative, working across communities and disciplines to create immersive, often site-specific installations grounded in kaupapa Māori.
At Toi Rauwhārangi, Kura teaches across art, design, music and Mātauranga Toi Māori, mentoring students to engage critically and creatively with Māori knowledge systems, mainly within marae-based wānanga. Her research focuses on Indigenous innovation and sensory knowledge, often involving co-creative projects with tohunga, scientists, and international partners.
Kura is also a key contributor to the Mātauranga Toi Māori major and a leading voice in shaping the way Māori creative practices are taught and experienced in tertiary education. Her work has been exhibited widely and continues to push the boundaries of how Māori art is seen, felt, and understood in contemporary contexts.
Styling by Suzanne Tamaki
Photography by Russell Kleyn
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Research Highlights
He Manawa Whenua: Indigenous Research Conference, July 2013, Waikato University.
Oral/visual presentation: ‘Innovative technologies for cultural illumination’. This paper provided examples of her projects and discussed how technology can function as visualisation of fundamental ‘intangible’ aspects of Matauranga Māori providing powerful learning and communicative tools.
Tipi Rā-ngī, Scanz2013: 3rd nature, residency and symposium, Feb 2013, New Plymouth.
A collaborative art/design project with Stuart Foster: ‘Tipi-Rāngi: Traversing the heavens’ a site-specific sound-carrying laser lights installation, Te Rewa Rewa Pa and Western Institute of Technology. This work transmitted customary karakia and karanga, through light lines across the whenua of Ngati Tawhirikura, Te Atiawa.
Intel Corporation Residency, ISEA2012: Machine Wilderness, conference Sep 2012.
This residency included a group exhibition ‘olol our land our love’, Albuquerque Museum of Art and Culture Sep 2012-Jan 2013, and oral/visual presentation: ‘Our land our light’ Intel Centre of Innovation, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA. Kura and her collaborative group, Blue Wade (USA) and Te Matahiapo Indigenous Research Organisation (NZ) worked with indigenous communities, Rio Rancho High School, and Intel scientists to create trans-disciplinary, cross-cultural learning and artistic experiences. Within the exhibition Kura presented an illuminated animated and interactive panel artwork.
Muramura solo-exhibitions at Pataka Art + Museum, June-September 2008 and Te Takapou Whariki o Taranaki Gallery, Puke Ariki Museum, May-July 2009.
A series of twelve animated illuminated tukutuku panels with variable patterns, colour and intensity. Light emitting diodes, fiber optic thread and electronic soft/hardware.
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Qualifications
BFA (Quay School of the Arts, Whanganui)
MMVA (First Class Honours) (Putahi a Toi Massey University Palmerston North)
