05Mar

22Mar

TAUTAI | NAVIGATE:

Celebrating 30 years of contemporary pacific art

5 March – 22 March 2016

Opening Night 4 March 2016

Artists in Conversation 1pm – 3pm 5 March 2016

White Night 12 March 2016

Studio One Toi TÅ«, 1 Ponsonby Road, Auckland

From the first exhibition of works by Fatu Feu’u at the gallery walls of the Massey homestead to 1 Ponsonby Road thirty years later; this exhibition is a celebration of the journey thus far.

The parameters of the Va expanded for contemporary art made by Pasifika people in Aotearoa, and indeed the world. Tautai has been the set of coordinates for countless artists of Pasifika origins. It’s the place where first exhibitions and consecutive exhibitions have been mounted. It has been the safe haven from which Pasifika artists could first test and safely explore the concept of the ‘white cube’. Where Pasifika philosophies are applied without question and where many grew confidence to journey alone in the intrepid waters of the art ocean.

Thirty years has seen not only the world move rapidly from analogue to digital and from postal mail to electronic. Technologies and information has forever altered the way in which art is viewed and practiced. Tautai’s artists too have moved fluidly throughout these huge shifts. An entirely new generation has been borne and brought up knowing how to navigate with much more ease resulting in some incredible ground-breaking and leading young artists bringing about a new and powerful dynamic face to art in Aotearoa.

TAUTAI | NAVIGATE is a celebratory exhibition of Aotearoa -based Pacific artists. For thirty years Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust has been navigating between the realm of Pacific art and the ‘white cube’. TAUTAI | NAVIGATE showcases a cross-section of some of the artists whose work has contributed to the navigation of Pacific Arts in Aotearoa. There is an accompanying performance series through the duration of the exhibition.

Artists include: Louisa Afoa, Jeffrey Feeger, Robert George, Lily Laita, Reina Sutton, Angela Tiatia, and Sheyne Tuffery.