This custom-framed graphic artwork by Tristan Marler (Manawa Tapu) draws on traditional tukutuku patterns, bringing rhythm, structure and cultural depth to a room. Its repeated geometric forms create movement and balance, working beautifully in contemporary interiors alongside natural materials, bold shapes and warm or neutral tones.
Traditionally woven from natural plant fibres, tukutuku panels have long formed part of the interior walls of wharenui, or Māori meeting houses. Their precise patterns are more than decoration: recurring triangles, diamonds and chevrons can carry connections to Māori cosmology, genealogy, spirituality and storytelling. Over time, tukutuku patterns have moved beyond their traditional setting and found new expression across clothing, adornment and contemporary visual art, continuing to communicate Māori identity, knowledge and pride.
