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New Exhibition: He Tangata, He Tangata

Exhibition Title: He Tangata, He Tangata

Date: 25th June – 21st July 2016

Opening Event: 24th June 2016. 5.30 -8pm

Venue: Geoff Wilson Gallery, Northtec campus, Raumanga Valley Road.

Gallery open days: Wednesday 10am – 6pm, Thursday and Friday 10am – 4pm. The gallery is also open by prior appointment and will be open on some Saturdays during the exhibition with artists live in the gallery. Please contact the gallery or check facebook (geoffwilsongallery) for details of these events.


Exhibition information:

He aha te mea nui o te ao?

He Tangata He Tangata

Welcome and Haere mai to an outstanding exhibition of artists from Gisborne , Auckland and Northland. Including storytelling, music with dance, large scale painting and graffiti, this collaboration of artists embodies a great variety of work, each expressing their individual concept of ‘value’.

What is ‘value’? How do we choose what we value, how do we show that we value it? Would you choose ostentatious display, or do you carefully pack and hoard away your treasures?

It is a complex issue and the exhibition is not intended to be didactic or to provide a simple answer, but to encourage you to consider the values you place on people, cultures, objects and time.

Mike Tupaea recently began a new journey in his personal and artist life in which he revisited his view of what the worth of an object could have at different times and with different viewpoints and the artists selected by Mike Tupaea have been tasked with considering this question and providing for this exhibition work which expresses their consideration of the question of value in their work. We find consideration of multiple options from financial consideration, usefulness, sentimentality, traditional and cultural.

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Artists from Northland are joined by practitioners from Auckland and Gisborne and include internationally recognised names such as Charles Williams whose focus is on depictions of endemic New Zealand birds in bold, graphic, colourful style graffiti murals. Charles displays a sense of pride in his work as an urban Maori artist, where he paints bold pattern pieces with graphic elements that have a connection to his love or urban art and the reference to Maori cultural designs.

There are artists using the medium of graffiti to express their individuality and their values within their sub-culture. Principles and standards of behaviour inform the practice of graffiti art in ways not always obvious or understood by the fine art world. Thus a clash of culture and differing value systems.

Honouring his cultural background, the exhibition will be staged as a traditional ritual of encounters and the work can be approached as a cultural interchange with symbols and stories threading through, though the work are contemporary.

The exhibition will include large scale mural style work, carved wood panels and large scale paintings.

The opening night on 24th June promises to be eventful, busy, challenging and celebratory occasion not to be missed, including live art, live performance in music, spoken word and movement.

Artist information (not a complete list):

Mike Tupaea

(Ngapuhi/Te Rarawa/Tainui)

As Maori we have a birthright to thousands of years of imagery. Now it’s up to us to build up the image of Maori in the world.”

Mike is primarily of Tainui (Waikato) and Nga Puhi descent and feels a strong connection to his cultural roots.

His designs are influenced by his Māori heritage combined with inspiration drawn from his faith and urban environment.

Originally from the West coast and growing up in Auckland, Mike had planned to join the Army after high school. But then family members’ began paying attention to the art he was creating at school, and pooled resources to send him to Elam Fine Arts School in 1994. As one of only 5 Maori/Pacific students in a class of 75 at Elam, Mike learned about art and refined his skills.

Mike moved down to Gisborne in 1996, to commence study at Toihoukura Maori Visual Arts. “Toihoukura offered a context where I was able to learn about Maori culture and the history of the imagery. This helped shape who I am as an artist. My character has been able to come out through the ancient symbols, and I found the freedom to tell my own stories through my art.” Mike completed his Diploma in 2003 with Toihokura. Feeling the need to develop further as an artist he attended Toimairangi Art School in 2011 where he gained his Degree in Maori Visual Arts under the mentorship of Sandy Adsett.

Charles Williams (Phat1 - TMD, SUK Crew)

(Ngati Kahungunu)

Founding member & President of the world acclaimed TMD crew (est.1996), Charles has been a major influence in the establishment & progression of urban street art throughout Aotearoa & around the globe over the past 20 years. With accomplishments that include world graffiti art championship titles, a full Ironlak sponsorship deal, a Guinness world record recognition &

involvement with some of the biggest street events throughout the globe, his heart & passion still remains here in NZ. Charles’ art work displays a sense of pride in who he is as an urban Maori, painting bold, graphic pieces that combine his passion for urban art with cultural references to Māori designs & native/endemic manu (birds). His works are part of a wave of urban pacific

art that is sweeping the world & is quickly being snatched up into private collections. Living in South Auckland for over 15 years now his connection to the area has deepened his passion for community, colour & life.

Janine Williams (Lady Diva - TMD, SUG Crew)

(Ngati Paoa/Ngati Whātua)

From her childhood growing up in Otara then moving to Papatoetoe where she still resides, South Auckland has always been home. The first female member of the world acclaimed ‘TMD’ crew, she picked up a spray can in 1998 & has continued to pave the way as a female Maori urban artist here in Aotearoa & in recent years internationally. A full time artist/ business owner is a juggle at times in between 4 children & community work but her passion remains in producing art that awakens the heart & brightens a room. Graphic maori designs, bright & colourful concepts, her style is feminine & inviting. Working on collaborative murals with her husband most days, she has spent the last few years developing her signature clouds & flower designs which are popping up on buildings, canvases & furniture everywhere with a vision to expand to materials & fabrics in the near future.


Johnny Poi

“We are inspired and influenced by people who we respect. Those who share a common interest in things we consider to be important. " Taku whanau-he punga mau ai "

Tai Kerekere

“Art is a whakapapa.
It is continuously evolving from one
generation to the next.
Art is an expression of one’s identity.”

Katarina Kerekere

“Māori art and design is a key visual identifier of our cultural identity and heritage. The icons, motif and stories are unique to our whānau, hapū and iwi. Not only do these cultural markers reinforce the foundations of my whare as an artist, they also open doorways and build pathways to help me support my whanau, hapū and iwi.”


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