Coca - Art Exhibitions - Christchurch

22.08.26

30.08.26

Playing with the tradition of a salon-style hang, Whakawhanaungatanga 2026 features the work of around 40 tertiary students, in a creative collaboration between Ara Institute of Canterbury and Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury.

Whakawhanaungatanga means the process of building and sustaining those multi-layered, flexible, and dynamic relationships and forms the foundation of our communities.

This annual exhibition continues to offer opportunity for connection, communal growth, and for tauira from both institutions to share their work with each other, the community, and the art world.

“Whānau is often translated as ‘family’, but its meaning is more complex. It includes physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions and is based on whakapapa. Whānau can be multi-layered, flexible and dynamic. Whānau is based on a Māori and a tribal world view. It is through the whānau that values, histories and traditions from the ancestors are adapted for the contemporary world.” -Tai Walker, academic.

Whakawhanaungatanga is delivered in partnership with Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury and ARA Institute of Canterbury.

UC Faculity of Arts
UC Ilam School or Arts
ARA Institute of Canterbury School of Art and Design

Phoenix Fowler, Ara, 'Old Hokitika Road/Rail Bridge', Woodcut and water colour, 415 x 970 x 10mm, 2026, Photo Credit Seoyoung Park

Amy Bright, Ilam — Painting, 'How we got here', Oil on board, 1000 x 750mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Jaron Blomfield, Ilam — Design, 'Paper Wait', Concrete, 297 x 210 x 50mm, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Olivia Bennett, Ilam — Sculpture, '[Can You See What I See?]', 840 x 590mm, Newsprint, markers, wheatpaste, ply wood, gesso, 2026, Photo Credit Seoyoung Park

Egie Ascona, Ilam — Painting, The Farm, Canvas board on an old frame, 290 x 360mm, 2025, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Lourie Torr, Ilam — Sculpture, 'Sigil', Apple, fume, hair, spore colonies, 80 x 80mm, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Alexandra Copplestone Ilam — Moving Image, 'The Decision to be Different' 26 minute looping video, Dimensions variable, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Madeline Hann, Ilam — Painting, 'and under tired eyes (I hid from her)', Oil on board, 500 x 500 x 35mm, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

India Jenkins, Ilam — Photography, 'A Blanket of Spider Silk', Accordion photo book (paper, and fabric cover) with end page attached to ceiling, Dimensions variable, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Gabby Chapman, Ara, 'Loss of control', Acrylic on canvas, black floating frame, 800 x 600mm, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Samantha Foote, Ilam — Design, 'Purple Rage (lesbian flag) 2026', Fabric, 800 x 1400mm, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Yannick Hornell, Ara, 'Parasitus Rotarius', Clay and found materials, Dimensions variable, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Ana Krakosky, Ilam — Painting, 'Light Falls I', Silk, calendula, lavender, cornflower, madder root, hollyhock, indigo, walnut husks and finishing dye, 470 x 1960mm, 2025, Photo Credit Seoyoung Park

Natasha Thompson, Ara, 'Haunted', Acrylic ink, acrylic paint, lino cut print, 696 x 400mm, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Joe Furniss, Ilam — Sculpture, 'Brickwork' Coromandel clay, fireplace ash glaze, 210 x 220 x 70mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Megan Woodhead, Ilam — Painting, 'Strength', Oil on canvas, 453 x 600mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Malaea Mcfadyen, Ara, 'Surveyor', Oil on canvas, 250 x 200mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Charlie Mainwaring, Ilam — Moving Image 'Unrendered innocence' CRT TV on plinth, 2025, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Mollie Newman, Ara, 'Rest Stop', Timber, plywood, recycled skateboards, 730 x 820 x 300mm, 2025, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Miya Lili, Ara, 'I Protect Her Peace', Acrylic on canvas, 450 x 900 x 45mm, 2026, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Georgie Walker, Ilam — Sculpture, Handcrafted Spinning Wheel, Pine wood, nails, string, plastic support, 900 x 400 x 300mm, 2026, photo credit Seoyoung Park

Ruby McDermott, Ilam — Painting, 'Found Figure', Acrylic on md, f400 x 400 x 3mm, 2026, photo credit Seoyoung Park

Seoyoung Park, Ilam — 'Painting Under tow' Acrylic on canvas, 300 x 500mm, 2026, photo credit Seoyoung Park

Ben Gilden, Ara, 'Temptation', Acrylic on canvas, 500 x 1000mm 2026, Photo Credit Seoyoung Park

Elliott Collins, Ilam — Painting, 'Orpheus' Oil on wood, 600 x 700mm, 2026, Photo Credit Seoyoung Park

Rose Major, Ilam — Painting, Untitled, Oil on canvas, 457 x 457mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Cam Naughton, Ilam — Sculpture, 'Untitled' Dimensions variable, 2025-26, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Schira Withers, Ilam — Painting, 'Retrospective', Acrylic, 9 mirror tiles, perspex, 940 x 940 x 120mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Poppy Heyward, Ara, 'Untitled' Ceramic, oxide stain, clear glaze, 200 x 50mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Tayla Murdoch, Ara, 'A Mothers Choices', Fabric screenprint, 820 x 1350mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Blair Holland, Ara, 'Accumulation' Monotype illustrations, zine, Dimensions variable, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Adan Spencer, Ara, 'blacklight moon', Canvas, 500 x 1200mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Otto Elworthy, Ilam — Moving Image, 'Breaking News, 1977', 16:7 moving image work, 640 x 480mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Cole Anderson, Ilam — Painting, 'Ko au te awa', Framed PET plastic with LED lights, 450 x 620mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Eliza Hills, Ara, 'Te Kore' Rosaspina paper, 500 x 350mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

Milo Neil, Ilam — Painting, 'The Expanded Cogito', Oil on board, 300 x 400mm, 2026, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

'Whakawhanaungatanga' 2026, Installation view, Photo Credit India Jenkins

Whakawhanaungatanga 2026, Installation view, Photo Credit Seoyoung Park

'Whakawhanaungatanga' 2026, Installation view, Photo Credit Mollie Newman

The Artists

Phoenix Fowler Ara
@phoenixf06

Ruby McDermott Ilam — Painting
@rubesmcd

Amy Bright Ilam — Painting
@amys_art_archive

Milo Neil Ilam — Painting
@whatabout.mart

Eliza Hills Ara
@cloudblep

Cole Anderson Ilam — Painting
@coleanderson.art

Georgie Walker Ilam — Sculpture
@georgeandyazmo

Otto Elworthy Ilam — Moving Image

Olivia Bennett Ilam — Sculpture
@liv_does.art

Yannick Hornell Ara
@garnish_ed

Adan Spencer Ara

Jaron Blomfield Ilam — Design

Samantha Foote Ilam — Design

Gabby Chapman Ara
@gabrielle_chap

Blair Holland Ara
@blairryvision

India Jenkins Ilam — Photography
@_indiajenkins_

Madeline Hann Ilam — Painting
@madelines_artgallery

Alexandra Copplestone Ilam — Moving Image
@paperhydrangea

Tayla Murdoch Ara

Poppy Heyward Ara

Schira Withers Ilam — Painting
@schiras_art

Lourie Torr Ilam — Sculpture

Cam Naughton Ilam — Sculpture
@campbell_naughton

Egie Ascona Ilam — Painting

Miya Lili Ara
@miyalili_art

Elliott Collins Ilam — Painting

Rose Major Ilam — Painting
@Rosiemajor.art

Megan Woodhead Ilam — Painting
@mog_makes_art

Ben Gilden Ara

Joe Furniss Ilam — Sculpture

Seoyoung Park Ilam — Painting
@ssunny_spark

Malaea Mcfadyen Ara
@laepains

Mollie Newman Ara
@hazie_designs

Natasha Thompson Ara
@hatethathaux

Ana Krakosky Ilam — Painting
@anazart_design

Charlie Mainwaring Ilam — Moving Image

Exhibition Details

Click here to view the exhibition floorsheet

Click here to read the written response by Madeline Hann

Click here to read a review of the exhibition on the ARA website

Student Group Show 2026

Playing with the tradition of a salon-style hang, Whakawhanaungatanga 2026 features the work of around 40 tertiary students, in a creative collaboration between Ara Institute of Canterbury and Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury.

The Artists

Exhibition Details

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