Quick Facts
Biography
Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss (nee Wickliffe) (born 1985 or 1986 is a multidisciplinary Aotearoa (New Zealand)-based artist and full time self taught hiapo (Niuean barkcloth) practitioner, Twiss was awarded the Arts Pasifika Award 'Pacific Heritage Artist award' in 2020 through Creative New Zealand.
Biography
Twiss is Niuean and Māori, with roots in Alofi and Liku, as well as Ngāpuhi and Tainui in Aotearoa. Originally from West Auckland, she was born in 1986. Cora-Allan completed a Bachelor of Visual Art and Design (photography) in 2007 and completed her master's in visual art and design (performance) from Auckland University of Technology in 2013. Twiss is a founding member of the BC Collective (Before Cook), along with her husband Daniel Twiss. Cora-Allan is renowned in New Zealand and Niue as the only living traditional hiapo (Niuean barkcloth) maker, recognised for resurrecting a dormant art genre. Compiling research for her master's from AUT Twiss was awarded the Postgraduate Research Award in 2014. Dedicated to hiapo, Twiss distinguishes hiapo (Niuean barkcloth), by imagery/motifs of 'botanical forms alone', differentiating hiapo from tapa and other barkcloth forms in the Pacific. Publishing Hiapo on 25 September 2020 Wickliffe's analysis on hiapo resulted in a book that is accessible and helps recognise hiapo as 'an art form that can be passed on to new generations.'
Cora-Allan was represented by Bartley and Company who was a dealer gallery in Wellington, NZ and is one of few if not the only female artists of Maori and Niuean heritage with representation. Her works are held in major collections such as Te Papa, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Lincoln University (New Zealand), Wallace Art Collection, and Royal Academy of Arts.
She has exhibited globally including, Canada, Australia, England, Niue and New Zealand.
Selected curations
2020– Moana Legacy. Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust. Auckland.
Selected exhibitions
| Year | Title | Gallery | location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Men of Matariki | Corban Estate Arts Centre | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2013 | Same STORY, different COLOUR | ST PAUL ST GALLERY | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2013 | Return to sender | Papakura Arts Gallery | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2016 | Greetings from Canada | RM Gallery | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2018 | Reliving Hiapo | Nathan Homestead Gallery | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2018 | Everything is Kapai | Dunedin Art Gallery | Dunedin, New Zealand | |
| 2019 | Documenting the land | Fatahega Lodge and Backpackers | (Niue Arts and Cultural Festival 2019.) | |
| 2019 | From the Archives | Tim Melville Gallery, Auckland | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2020 | Remember with me | The Grey Place | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2020 | Our Last supper with you revised (Cora- Allan Wickliffe and Kelly Lafaiki.) | Tautai Gallery | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2020 | Pacific Samplers (ft. Lonnie Hutchinson) | Bartley and Company | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 2021 | Roll with me | Fresh Gallery | Otara, Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2021 | Flowers from Niue | Bartley and Company | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 2022 | From Otītori Bay Rd | Te Uru | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| 2022 | Histories on Hiapo | Bartley & Company Art | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Year | Title | Gallery | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Exotic weeds(ft. Shannon Brett.) | Kick Arts Gallery | Cairns, Australia | |
| 2015 | #HUI Untitled | Art Society | Calgary, Canada | |
| 2015 | Dusky Maiden | Elephant Artist Relief, Art Conference | Calgary, Canada | |
| 2016 | Spring runoff | MST Festival | Calgary, Canada | |
| 2016 | Found Footing | Whipper Snapper Gallery | Toronto, Canada | |
| 2019 | The space between us | Black Dot Gallery | Melbourne, Australia | |
| 2019 | Fifty Shade of Blak | Blak Dot Gallery | Melbourne, Australia | |
| 2019 | Returns and Transits | Vancouver Art Gallery | Canada |
Residencies
2018- Indigenous arts residency, Banff Arts Centre
2021– Te Whare Hera Residency, Massey University and Mana Moana project.
2021– McCahon House Residency. Auckland. Histoires on Hiapo installation at Bartley & Company Art Gallery. 10 March - 2 April 2022 Wickliffe during the McCahon House Artist Residency.
Awards
2004– RSA Community Award.
2004–2008 Keir Trust Scholarship Award.
2014– AUT School of Art and Design Postgraduate Research Award.
2017– Selected finalist for the Estuary Art Awards.
2019– Selected finalist Molly Morpeth Canaday Award.
2020 – Creative New Zealand Pacific Heritage Artist award – Arts Pasifika Awards
2021- Selected finalist National Contemporary Art Award Waikato Museum
2021- Selected finalist Parkin Prize Award, Wellington
2021– Springboard Award, Arts Foundation of New Zealand (award includes mentorship from 2008 Arts Foundation Laureate Shane Cotton)
2022– Selected finalist Molly Morpeth Canaday Award.