Overview
Home AKL is a dynamic exhibition presenting works by
Pacific artists, most of whom live in Auckland.
Home AKL reveals the increasingly significant role
Pacific art plays in New Zealand's identity and cultural landscape,
and includes work by more than 20 artists whose heritage derives
from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and
Tuvalu.
'New Zealand's contemporary Pacific art reflects many
distinctive voices, stories and perspectives - it's urban,
biographical and affected by its grass-roots community,' says the
Gallery's Senior Curator, New Zealand and Pacific Art, Ron
Brownson.
Artwork by three generations of Pacific artists show how these
practitioners use personal experience to examine concepts of 'home'
and belonging.
Artworks include those by prominent Pacific artists - Lonnie
Hutchinson, Ioane
Ioane, Shigeyuki Kihara, Andy Leleisi'uao, Paul Tangata and Teuane
Tibbo - and
emerging talents such as Leilani Kake, Janet Lilo and Siliga David
Setoga.
'It is impossible to consider New Zealand art today without
taking account of the influence of the Pacific,' says Home
AKL Associate Curator Ema Tavola of Fresh Gallery Otara. Also
working with the Gallery on this exhibition are Associate Curators
Nina Tonga and Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai.
A range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography,
video and
adornment has been selected. Alongside artwork from the Gallery's
collection and
loans, Home AKL will feature 13 new commissions, including five
from Fiji,
Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu and present work by Joana
Monolagi,
Louisa Humphry, Kaetaeta Watson, Foufili Halagigie, Sēmisi Fetokai
Potauaine,
Kolokesa Kulīkefu, Hūlita Tupou and Lakiloko Keakea.
Home AKL's opening day will be celebrated with free
entry to the exhibition, music and performances. A family-friendly
Big Day Art will also be held with art workshops inspired by the
exhibition. Over the course of Home AKL, the exhibition's
supporting visitor programme will include free artist talks, film
screenings and a seminar.
The exhibition is generously supported by Creative New Zealand
and art patrons Rose Dunn and the Friedlander Foundation.
Exhibition entry: Single adult admission - $5, concession rates
available.
Home AKL is exhibited from 7 July until 22
October 2012
Exhibition Patrons: Albert Refiti, Senior
Lecturer and Head of Spatial Design Department, AUT University and
Caroline Vercoe, Senior Lecturer Art History Department, University
of Auckland.
Artists: Edith Amituanai, Graham Fletcher, Tanu
Gago, Niki Hastings-McFall,
Foufili Halagigie, Louisa Humphry, Lonnie Hutchinson, Ioane Ioane,
Leilani Kake,
Lakiloko Keakea, Shigeyuki Kihara, Kolokesa Kulīkefu, Jeremy
Leatinu'u, Andy
Leleisi'uao, Janet Lilo, Joana Monolagi, Ani O'Neill, Sēmisi
Fetokai Potauaine,
John Pule, Greg Semu, Siliga David Setoga, Paul Tangata, Angela
Tiatia, Teuane
Tibbo, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, Jim Vivieaere, Hūlita Tupou and
Kaetaeta
Watson.
Exhibition curators: Senior Curator - Ron
Brownson, Associate Curators - Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai, Nina Tonga and
Ema Tavola.
Image: Angela Tiatia, production still from the video
Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis, 2010, courtesy of the artist
