Telly Tuita, Summer Death, 1060x1350mm, digital print on cotton rag paper, 2022.
Photo Credit
Artists
- Mahiriki Tangaroa
- Andy Leleisi’uao
- Sylvia Marsters
- Telly Tuita
- Nina Oberg Humphries
- Michel Tuffery
- Benjamin Work
- Raymond Sagapolutele
- Kulimoe’anga Stone Maka
The exhibition Te Atuitanga - Between Our Cloak of Stars celebrates an evolution of Pacific understanding and shared heritage. These 9 artists are exceptional Pacific artists of Polynesian legacy, and they stand together here now, in Tāmaki Makaurau, the largest Pacific city in the world with an authoritative statement. They form part of an enduring narrative that continually questions our origins, who they/we are, where we are going and what we mean, to our community, to each other and to our place in the world.
It draws into focus the meaning of the word Pacific, its people, culture, and its collective aspirations. As current regional developments play out; it is a timely political and cultural conversation.
The ancient navigators, Tohunga kōkōrangi, used the stars and the star clusters like Matariki to navigate the vast Pacific Ocean and find new land. This skill was revived almost 50 years ago and remains in active use today; double hulled Vaka once again traverse the oceans.
But the search parameters have now changed, and it is not land that is being sought but knowledge is. In the rediscovery of important traditional knowledge, we take information from the past to fortify our future. Today, Pacific artists actively research and explore the rich, rediscovered history of the Polynesians, generating artforms and important discussion of place, self and opportunity. Of most importance they collectively speak to an informed future on a global stage.
As Epeli Hau’ofa stated in his essay ‘Our Sea of Islands’; ‘The world of Oceania may no longer include the heavens and the underworld; but it certainly encompasses the great cities of Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada. And it is within his expanded world that the extent of the people's resources must be measured.’
One of our resources is visual art and it speaks to you right now, between our cloak of stars.
Opening Hours
- Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5:30pm
Address
- Suite 3
- 582 Karangahape Road
- Gallery entrance via 2 Newton Road
- Auckland
The exhibition Te Atuitanga - Between Our Cloak of Stars celebrates an evolution of Pacific understanding and shared heritage. These 9 artists are exceptional Pacific artists of Polynesian legacy, and they stand together here now, in Tāmaki Makaurau, the largest Pacific city in the world with an authoritative statement. They form part of an enduring narrative that continually questions our origins, who they/we are, where we are going and what we mean, to our community, to each other and to our place in the world.
It draws into focus the meaning of the word Pacific, its people, culture, and its collective aspirations. As current regional developments play out; it is a timely political and cultural conversation.
The ancient navigators, Tohunga kōkōrangi, used the stars and the star clusters like Matariki to navigate the vast Pacific Ocean and find new land. This skill was revived almost 50 years ago and remains in active use today; double hulled Vaka once again traverse the oceans.
But the search parameters have now changed, and it is not land that is being sought but knowledge is. In the rediscovery of important traditional knowledge, we take information from the past to fortify our future. Today, Pacific artists actively research and explore the rich, rediscovered history of the Polynesians, generating artforms and important discussion of place, self and opportunity. Of most importance they collectively speak to an informed future on a global stage.
As Epeli Hau’ofa stated in his essay ‘Our Sea of Islands’; ‘The world of Oceania may no longer include the heavens and the underworld; but it certainly encompasses the great cities of Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada. And it is within his expanded world that the extent of the people's resources must be measured.’
One of our resources is visual art and it speaks to you right now, between our cloak of stars.
