Emerging Pacific Artist’s Woodblock Prints Exhibiting in Queenstown

David Teata’s “embossed woodblock prints” are destined to be the toast of the Queenstown arts scene during the month of December. The Mangaia-born artist is currently exhibiting his work alongside Sam Foley and Fleur Yorston at Queenstown’s Toi O Tahuna Fine Art Gallery. The exhibition will run from 4 – 20 December, 2008. David’s prints are a fusion of traditional Cook Islands motifs with contemporary elements, and explores the idea that identity is shaped in part by genealogical inheritance. He does this by layering motifs and patterns in textured sediments. The many layers express the complex identities within Aotearoa/New Zealand’s diverse multicultural society. In his current series, David explores the role of the Pi’a Atua within his own genealogy, a term referring to the vision, wisdom and guidance of those holding the office of priest and prophet in Cook Islands culture. David Teata has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Otago School of Art.