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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Eva Corlett in Wellington

‘Luminous’ truck strap artwork wins prestigious Biennale prize in first for New Zealand

New Zealand’s Mataaho Collective - a group of four Māori women artists - produced the large-scale installation inspired by traditional Māori takapau, finely woven mats made for special events.
The Venice Biennale judges noted the ‘impressive scale’ of the work by New Zealand’s Mataaho Collective. Photograph: Ben Stewart

A Māori artist collective’s dazzling, intricate canopy woven from reflective trucking straps has been awarded a prestigious global art prize – the first time a New Zealand artwork has won the award.

On Saturday, the jury of the 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale awarded New Zealand’s Mataaho Collective the Golden Lion for best international participation for its work Takapau – a large-scale installation inspired by Māori takapau, finely woven mats made for special events.

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