Tia Ranginui (Ngāti Hine Oneone) is a Whanganui based photographer whose poetic and political work situates local mythologies and histories (both personal and shared) at its centre. Taking her turangawaewae (home base) as her primary inspiration, Ranginui shares her intimate knowledge of the Whanganui awa and the surrounding whenua via a uniquely familiar lens.

Creating images which are richly textured and hauntingly atmospheric, Ranginui is lured time and time again to te taiao (the natural world) to capture the rugged, elemental beauty of our water, sky and bush. A magical sensibility pervades Ranginui’s images as she reveals a fairytale-esque landscape which is distinctly Aotearoa.

Most often featuring a single character (be they human or animal) Ranginui utilises the communicative power of her images to assert historical fact, document places of significance before change, and render pūrākau (myth/legend) in the present day.

Ranginui’s works are held in multiple public collections including: Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui, St Peter’s School Cambridge, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, The Dowse Art Museum, Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato and the Arts House Trust.

All Tia Ranginui works courtesy of Laree Payne Gallery.