Three printmakers explore their Murihiku roots in the Southern Mother exhibition now open at He Waka Tuia on Kelvin Street.

Emma Riha Kitson is a descendant of Kai Tahu ki Murihiku. Kyla Cresswell and Kim Lowe both grew up in Murihiku and are descendants of Southland settlers.

“Since opening, we have had amazing feedback from the public,” said He Waka Tuia Art Curator Bridget Duncan. “This exhibition showcases a wide variety of printmaking techniques and captures moments with incredible detail.”

Kitson, Cresswell, and Lowe met at the Dunedin School of Art in 1993 and while the three subsequently followed different paths, each gravitated towards the process-heavy technique of printmaking. Kitson says she loves the egalitarian nature of printmaking and its connections to historical revolutionary movements. Cresswell notes her enjoyment of the progression from mark-making to printed image, and the distinctive elements each printmaking process gives to the image. For Lowe, it is all about working in reverse and taking tiny steps following a traditional and time-laden process.

The three artists credit their teacher Marilynn Webb for their ongoing work in this art medium, encouraging them to explore the depths of their rich ancestry and identities, to value a connection to place, and to believe in their strengths and voice.

“Southern Mother” will run until Sunday, May 5 at He Waka Tuia, 42 Kelvin St., Invercargill. For more information on events related to the exhibition, follow He Waka Tuia on Facebook or go to hewakatuia.nz