Hone Tuwhare and Ralph Hotere were good friends; their independent artistic careers united by a shared concern for human rights and injustice. There was a mutual respect and moments of cross-pollination between the work of each. Hotere drew on Tuwhare’s poems in several of his paintings, also contributing cover designs for a number of Tuwhare’s volumes of poetry. In 1970 Tuwhare released the book Come Rain Hail, which included the poem Hotere – a reflection on art, friendship, time and space. In November 2020 the Dunedin Public Art Gallery opened the exhibition RALPH HOTERE: ATETE (to resist) and published the poem Hotere on the Gallery’s BIG WALL
Tuwhare Trustees Rob Tuwhare and Jeanette Wikaira attended the exhibition opening, it was a very special evening and a breathtaking exhibition.
Photo: Hone Tuwhare and Ralph Hotere. Photograph by Gil Hanly. Private Collection.