Kai Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe

Artist

As a descendant of Kai Tahu, Waitaha, and Kāti Mamoe iwi, Ruby Kihapane Vidgen draws deep inspiration from her ancestral roots, with her art acting as a vessel for the complexities of identity, land, and colonization in Aotearoa.

Her work resonates with a strong sense of connection to whenua and whakapapa. However, these connections are contrasted by the lived experience of othering—a profound dislocation felt as a result of colonial structures imposed on their people and land.

Through a variety of mediums, Ruby explores the tension between belonging and alienation, using their art to confront the erasure and marginalization of Māori voices in a colonial context. The themes of their work reflect not only personal and collective identity but also challenge the ongoing impact of colonization, providing a critical commentary on the struggles of Indigenous peoples in reclaiming sovereignty over their whenua.

Their art is both a form of resistance and a process of healing, weaving together tradition and contemporary expression, aiming to evoke dialogue about the enduring ghosts of colonization while celebrating the resilience and beauty of Māori culture.