Chantel Matthews

Chantel Matthews is a contemporary artist of Māori and English descent.  Her artworks can be described as sculptural moments inspired by the ‘everyday’ whilst exploring her own subjectivity as a woman, mother, artist and wahine Māori.  Works and resides in Tāmaki Makaurau (Tainui, Ngāti Hounuku, Ngāti Tahinga).

You are not buying mushrooms, you are buying He harore rangitahi.  July 2022.  Pekepeke-kiore (NZ Lions mane) grown by Mushrooms by the Sea, Raglan Dimensions: 700mm L x330mm W x 400mm H Glass Tank, Authentication Certificate. POA

You are not buying mushrooms, you are buying He harore rangitahi.  July 2022.  Pekepeke-kiore (NZ Lions mane) grown by Mushrooms by the Sea, Raglan Dimensions: Glass Jar filled with dehydrated Mushrooms, Authentication Certificate. POA

Each day if you can imagine a tree falling in the forest and no one hears it, there is an entire network ready for it to fall so they can break it down, recycle and replenish it as nutrients for others.  I refer this network to my relationship with learning te reo Māori.  Each day I am breaking down fallen generations, old habits and ways of thinking, meanwhile there is a network of whakapapa past and present ready and wanting to nurture that space.  A reminder to not give up because a strong tree is made up of many He harore rangitahi. 

5 questions in 5 minutes:

Do you have a favourite colour?
Black

How do you take your coffee?
Not a coffee oerson

Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?
Nope.

Who is your favourite artist of all time + now? Why?
Frida Kahlo because of her fearless vulnerablity.

5 words that explain you or your art?
Conceptual, holds space for contemplation, is a vessel of time, manaakitanga