Tēnā koutou kātoa.
Thank you, Lord, for all that I am.
Kia ora, Roimata Taimana tōku ingoa.
I whakapapa back to the far north – Hokianga, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi – and whakapapa to Ngāti Huarere, Whangapoua, Hauraki Coromandel.
Born in West Auckland and raised there and in Whangapoua, I have travelled parts of our beautiful world and come back to reside in our wonderful village, Kūaotunu, with my ātaahua wife Carolyn, our cute little rescue kurī Esme, six chickens, all the amazing creatures of the ngāhere, manu galore and great neighbours who are more whānau than friends.
A little history about my artistic background. I won a drawing competition in primary school, Arahoe School in New Lynn. Over the years, I have been through phases of using different mediums: acrylic paints, spray paints, and bone, stone and wood carving, chopping and changing between them. All of these gave me an insight into the different phases of my journey, leading me to where I am now.
Around 2016, I found a passion for fine art ink design and noticed that people were drawn to the pieces. The more I drew, the more people wanted. When I start with an empty piece of paper, I do not know what I will draw, I wait for the paper and ink to reveal its image through my hand. Two years ago, I also began to digitally create art on an iPad, again opening another dimension to the style of my works – some of these digital images appear with this article.
I have been blessed to have had many doors opened to exhibiting around our rohe/region. My first ever exhibition, The Moon, was in a gallery in Kapanga/Coromandel owned by Debra Dickson. I am a part of the artist collective 10 Artists who regularly show their work in the Kūaotunu Hall. This supportive roopu/group also led me to an exhibition at Driving Creek called Pens, Lens and Paper with Ian Preece and Phil Fickling, who have become great mates as well as artistic partners. Each roopu, as well as some individuals along the way, has helped me shape and fine-tune my artistic creativity. All my pieces are inspired by pū kōrero/stories I hear. I listen to them being told around a table or a bonfire, sitting in a café or simply being in Te Ao/the world.
In my daily mahi, I am a mataora (change agent) who works particularly with tamariki and rangatahi. We should all encourage whānau who are creative, especially our tamariki and rangatahi. Support their creative flare so they too can fill the world with joy.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou kātoa.
Check out Roimata’s work here.
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