Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery: Kalisolaite ‘Uhila: Koe Tenga tete to tete Utu pe koia

‘Uhila recapitulates 27 years of artistic practice, reflecting on gestures of hospitality, on family and togetherness/belonging, and on growth. 

Koe Tenga tete to tete Utu pe koia reflects on our links to the past, to collective histories and trauma. It considers how we grow through personal perseverance, unexpected opportunities, and new encounters.

"The seed you sow you will reap” resonates throughout the exhibition, suggesting that every act – of labour, kindness, or rebellion – carries a potential return. In ‘Uhila’s art, it becomes a philosophy of care, persistence, and transformation. The scent of citrus, the rhythm of wheels on concrete – such details from ‘Uhila’s youth reappear in the exhibition space, evoking the resilience and tenderness that underpin his artistic practice. In this story, oranges become tokens of love and care, while skateboarding references freedom and escapism.