Ka Mua, Ka Muri: Walking Backwards Into the Future

An exhibition of contemporary ceramics by Māori artist Maia Kreisler.

Ka mua, ka muri — walking backwards into the future — is a powerful Māori concept that acknowledges the past as a guiding force. We move forward with our backs to the future, eyes fixed on what has come before. The works reflect this ideology, drawing strength and insight from memory, tradition, and ancestral wisdom. Black silhouettes evoke timeless human forms, while intricate kowhaiwhai patterns flow across them, symbolising genealogy, continuity, and the ever-present influence of whakapapa. Each line and curve becomes a visual reminder that our future is shaped by the steps and stories of those who walked before us. The choice of materials is always looking to the tradition of ceramics and breaking rules by using silver paint — a more contemporary material.