Quilt artist Maungarongo Te Kawa revels in found fabrics.

Maungarongo Te Kawa is a whakapapa quilt artist who uses vintage fabrics to tell stories WORDS

Vintage coats sporting the New Zealand Wool Board logo are prize finds for quilt artist Maungarongo “Ron” Te Kawa when he is hunting and gathering the fabrics he uses for his vibrant pieces. “I also love contrast and breaking the rules mixing bling and wool, satin and velvet,” says the talented Woodville creator, who is Ngāti Porou. “The only rule is that it has to be gorgeous.” Like his intricately crafted quilts, which tell the stories of kaupapa Māori and whakapapa, Ron says the fabric itself has an archeaology. “By being made into an artwork, the story evolves and takes on new life,” he explains. “Recently, I was given a small scrap of leaf-green vintage satin that someone had held onto for 30 years. People are generous; a lot of the fabrics are koha. I pass on what I can’t use.” He says creativity is like a mauri or life force – “electricity that buzzes through everything” – and over time he’s needed different inspirations to create. “Sometimes it’s about closing the door and occupying my quiet space. Sometimes it’s about being loud or just being with friends... Sometimes it’s about growth or tīpuna [ancestors] or celebration or survival or just seeing how far I can push it.” See Ron’s work at his Hikihiki: Stories that uplift exhibition at Season in Commercial Bay, Auckland, from June 24. Visit seasonaotearoa.com.