Subliminal Shots of Pacific history at Artstation

MEDIA RELEASE

8 September 2005

Subliminal Shots of Pacific history at Artstation

Western accounts of Pacific history are challenged in Subliminal Shots - a revealing new show by artist Nooroa Tapuni at the Artstation Gallery from 20 September to 8 October 2005.

Subliminal Shots looks at early and contemporary Western depictions of Pacific people to examine the way cultural stereotypes are fixed and enforced.

Tapuni says "This evocative installation directs attention to what is conveniently and repeatedly missed out of Western interpretations."

Tapuni uses themes of cultural difference and colonialism to investigate the authority of the early colonial imagery and its relevance today.

The bright, buoyant colours used to characterise Pacific culture by artists such as Gauguin give way to a darker, monochromatic palette in Tapuni’s paintings and sculptures. The works dispute stereotypes of Pacific people as ‘exotic’.

Rather than portraying western accounts as clear and conclusive, Subliminal Shots reveals them as being fabricated and problematic.

SUBLIMINAL SHOTS exhibition information:
Artists: Nooroa Tapuni
Exhibition: 20 September to 8 October 2005
Opening: 5-7pm, Tuesday 20 September 2005

Artstation, Auckland City’s community visual arts facility, is located at the old police barracks at 1 Ponsonby Rd, Newton. It is easy to get to by public transport with the Link’s ‘Artstation’ bus stop right outside.

ENDS

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