Tirohanga
Vertigo Sea by John Akomfrah and Tirohanga by Bridget Reweti is major exhibition of two artists reflecting on our relationship to the ocean and land.
Bridget Reweti, Excuse me, you’re still in my shot (still). 2012. Two channel digital video
25.05.16
07.08.16
Both artists investigate personal and collective histories, memory about cultural, ethnic and personal identity, and the impact of colonialism, from African migration and Māori perspectives.
Heralded as one of the most important commissions of the Venice Biennale in 2015.
Vertigo Sea by Ghanaian born British artist filmmaker John Akomfrah is a mesmerising cinematic exploration of our relationship to the migration of refugees interplayed with awe inspiring imagery of the history, intelligence and majesty of the largest mammal on earth.
Whilst Akomfrah’s Vertigo Sea operates on a universal nature of the ocean as site, Bridget Reweti’s work is tied specifically to the land of Aotearoa New Zealand. Tirohanga takes the narratives of her iwi at Tauranga Moana as a starting point, to explore our understanding of the land and landscape in the North and South Island.
Tirohanga is tied specifically to the land of Aotearoa New Zealand. It takes the narratives of Bridget Reweti’s iwi at Tauranga Moana as a starting point, to explore our understanding of the land and landscape.
The work challenges the ideas of the wild, untamed, sublime Aotearoa New Zealand landscape, as first told by the 18th Century European migrants, offering an alternate perspective from Te Ao Māori through its quiet observation.
The sublime landscapes of New Zealand’s national parks are often viewed as uninhabited wilderness – places to visit, but not to stay. Tirohanga questions this idea. Reweti records her presence in these landscapes as matter of fact. Using a combination of contemporary and historical photographic techniques infused with customary Māori names and narratives of place, we are quietly invited to look again at these vistas, and consider that the land has always been inhabited.
Bridget has exhibited widely in Aotearoa, and recently participated in the Indigenous Visual and Digital Residency at The Banff Centre, Canada. She is part of Mata Aho Collective a collaboration between four Māori women artists commenting on the complexity of Māori lives. Bridget is also a founding member of Kava Club, a Wellington based collective of Māori and Pacific artists, performers, activists and supporters.
Bridget Reweti
Bridget Reweti is a Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi artist. Her moving image and photography practice explores customary Māori concepts within a contemporary context. Her primary concerns are Māori narratives and names pertaining to the landscape and the portrayal of these through traditional photographic techniques. Bridget is part of Mata Aho Collective, a collaboration between four Māori women artists who produce large scale fiber-based works, commenting on the complexity of Māori lives.
Bridget is also a founding member of Kava Club, a Wellington based collective of Māori and Pacific artists, performers, activists and supporters. Kava Club produce thematic public events that disrupt formulaic modes of representation of minorities.