EXHIBITION IN NEW ZEALAND FOR TANIA NIWA

Tania returned to New Zealand as an exhibiting artist for Maori Art Market in October 2009.

The Maori Art Market event was led by a unique partnership between Toi Maori Aotearoa (New Zealand Maori Art body) and its national artists' collectives and Porirua City with its extensive arts and cultural profile.

Tania exhibited 4 pieces in the show that had it’s first show two years ago and attracted thousands of visitors including international guests and artists.

The image above is of 6 yr old Erin Adwoa Gaw of Cromer, Sydney Australia. Erin's portrait was a featured image in the Maori Art exhibition. Erin's mum is originally from Ghana and Dad is from Sth Africa, with English / Scottish heritage.

APPA 2008, Brisbane

Tania & Lauren have just returned from the annual Australian Professional Photography Awards held in Brisbane where Tania received 2 silver awards in the portrait category.

The Canon Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA) attracts over 2000 entries. Professional photographers from Australia and New Zealand compete for a number of industry awards by submitting four images, which are judged by a panel of their peers.

The awards are a platform for the development and promotion of professional photography. Competitive peer judgment drives excellence and creative experimentation and a magnificent book of winning images celebrates the achievement of Australia's professional photographers and promotes the endeavor of professional photography in Australia.

Click here to view Tania’s award history

Tania & Lauren being interviewed by Fujifilm

Red Cross Teaching Role at Palm Island

Tania and Studio Manager, Lauren recently visited Palm Island, an indigenous community on the far north coast of Queensland, near Townsville.

Palm Island was made a reserve in 1914 and regarded as an ideal place to confine Aboriginal and Islander people who were regarded as ‘problem cases’. Around 1630 people from 40 different Aboriginal groups across Queensland were removed by the QLD Government and deposited on the Island.

Red Cross and Fuji Film Australia invited Tania and Lauren to be part of an educational project which culminated in a community concert and photography exhibition.


The project was created to help build self esteem in the younger members of the community. Other creative specialists were also brought in to run workshops in dance, drama, musical writing, recording, art and photography. Tania commented that the photography component was a powerful and fitting way to record the island’s history through the teenagers’ own eyes.

The concert was hosted at their Community Centre. Here the images taken by the teenagers, and visiting photographers were unveiled to an eager audience of budding artists, friends and families. A selection of the participants’ images will also be exhibited at the Qld State Library.


Tania said “Our arrival was very timely as Parliament’s official apology to the Indigenous people of Australia took place the day before we arrived on the island and there was lots of emotion and excitement. It was meaningful to see that the apology was appreciated by the community including the Elders some of whom were of the stolen generation. Lauren and I feel much richer for being welcomed into this community and for being able to share our knowledge.” Tania and Lauren plan to return in June.

Event - NZIPP Awards

Auckland, New Zealand.
New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography awards.

Event - Australian Professional Photography Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards
Melbourne, Australia
Guest Judge

Maori Market

Maori Market, Wellington, New Zealand

Maori Market will be the largest assembly of contemporary Maori art from over 100 leading and emerging artists when it opens the doors for the first time at Wellington's TSB Event Centre on Queens Wharf from April 27 to 29.

Tania has been invited as one of the top Maori artists to exhibit her finest tribal portraiture. This will see her given the opportunity to been seen by international art buyers and also make contact with other Maori artists.

Maori artwork is rapidly becoming a 'hot' new industry and export earner for New Zealand, with international promotion and marketing being led by the artists themselves.

www.maoriart.org.nz/events/maori_market

Event - Photographic Society of NZ

Photographic Society of NZ
Guest Speaker
New Plymouth, Taranaki NZ

www.photography.org.nz

WPPI Awards

Wedding Portrait Photographers International (WPPI)
WPPI Awards in association with Rangefinder Magazine
Convention and Trade Show
Guest Platform Speaker

Tania during WIPP event in Las Vegas after winning three major awards, Las Vegas, USA.

Platform Speakers: Tania and Studio Manager, Lauren presented the principles of image and branding to reach new levels of success in portrait photography. Tania also gave an insight into her groundbreaking collection of tribal portraiture, which combines a unique blend of documentary and high design.

Eternal Thead Exhibition Opening

Tania Niwa and Photography Studio Manager, Lauren were recently invited to an exhibition opening 'Eternal Thread' in Christchurch.The world-class exhibition returned from its groundbreaking and highly successful international tour of the USA, showcasing the very best of traditional and contemporary Maori weaving.

The show has toured the western states of the USA over the last three years. Native Indians art leaders, accompanied by university and museum educators from Alaska, California, San Francisco and Seattle supported the show in its final exhibit.

See more images from the Eternal Thread Exhibition here.

NZIPP Awards

Tania after receiving Gold Bar to Fellow NZIPP, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Received Gold Bar to Fellow
Received Gold Award People Category

Event - Ronald Woolf Memorial

Wellington New Zealand.

Guest Speaker Ronald Woolf Memorial Event in association with the NZIPP (Wellington Branch). Gala Event to honour Melanie Burford (winner of Pulitzer Prize) and other NZ photographers including Tania who have gained international success in 2006. In association with the Photographic Society of NZ (Wellington Branch).