A special collaboration between the Aigantighe Art Gallery and the South Canterbury Tongan Society is aiming to further connect the community with a unique new exhibition.
The collaboration comes in the form of three workshops to help the wider community engage with and understand the gallery’s new Tongan art exhibition ‘Kumi Moe Heliaki: Blackened Tapa and Metaphor’.
The exhibition features works from prominent Tongan New Zealand artist Kulimoe’anga Stone Maka and is the first time ngatu ‘uli or blackened tapa has been featured at the Aigantighe.
Aigantighe Art Gallery exhibitions curator Izzy Hillman said it was important to collaborate with the Tongan Society to share the cultural significance of the exhibition.
‘‘We wanted a way to invite the community to understand the background of the artist a bit more and this opportunity with the workshops will allow us to do that.
‘‘We’ve welcomed Stone to his Tongan village in Timaru, so we want to welcome the visitors too. That’s what those workshops are doing, explaining a little bit more about the concepts behind the works but also the cultural importance too.
‘‘This is probably the largest survey of Stone’s work to date, because this work goes from his very early 2006 works up to this year. For Timaru to have an internationally recognised artist’s work here, it’s definitely up there in my top five achievements [as a curator].’’
The first workshop will take place on November 20 from 3.30-4.30pm and feature a tapa making workshop and story telling session while the next two workshops will take place in January as part of the gallery’s holiday programme.
On January 14 a Tongan dance workshop will be held and on January 31 a weaving workshop.
While the tapa workshop is targeted for 8 to 18-year-olds, the two January sessions are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
South Canterbury Tongan Society general manager Sina Latu said it was culturally important to see a significant Tongan art exhibition featuring tapa in Timaru.
‘‘It’s the treasure that every household has, and it tells a story. To make the tapa is a lot of work, and it usually involves the whole community, the village, it’s a collective work.
‘‘I was very surprised to see something like this in Timaru because I think for us, we have been trying to advocate and trying to be seen because we are a minority and then all of a sudden, bang, there’s an exhibition here.
‘‘It makes us feel very proud. It was my first time here [in the gallery], I’d never been, most of our community had never been here, we’d just drive by and think ‘what’s in there’.
‘‘The mentality was we don’t go there, but now it’s like, yes, it’s also for us so it’s opened our eyes and opened our heart.’’
She said it was great to be collaborating with the gallery for the workshops.
‘‘We hope they will bring more people in, they’ll be very friendly, and open to anyone.
‘‘People just need to bring an open mind, be ready to learn and ready to have fun. Having fun is the most important part.’’
Ms Hillman said these types of exhibitions and collaborations were equally important for the gallery.
‘‘It’s really important that our role as a cultural institution is opening eyes up and challenging our viewers and visitors, but also welcoming new communities to the gallery.
‘‘Predominantly, the gallery has a white retirement visitation. So it’s sort of one of my goals to change that and through doing these workshops, we’re one sort of stepping stone further in that process.
‘‘It’s something if successful, we definitely want to repeat again. The more that we can serve the community, the better.’’
The workshops are being supported by a grant from the Harcourts Foundation.
Anyone wishing to attend the tapa workshop on November 20 are encouraged to get in contact with the gallery to book a space as they may be limited.
