Growing up on the back of a taniwha: Artist and comedian Noa Noa Von Bassewitz

B-Side Stories

Noa Noa Von Bassewitz grew up living on the back of the Taniwha Whātaitai. Her childhood dream of becoming a vampire was thwarted by braces, but she has woven personal and symbolic representations of supernatural beings through her art her whole life. Noa Noa is currently moving from woodblock printing into large scale multi-layered monoprints: "an explosion in the gallery" and is also exploring the medium of stand-up comedy on the side. She talked to Sadie Coe about connection and separation, love, travel, and putting fear aside. We also played some tracks by Noa Noa's son Ngahere Wafer. You can see one of his video's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z-VQpkIn7Q Made with the support of Wellington Access Radio and NZ on Air.