TAKE 40 is an exhibition of contemporary art by 40 artists and designers from New Zealand and the Pacific Rim from curator Giles Peterson’s personal collection. It features multimedia work including graffiti art, painting, drawing, animation, hip hop music video, sculpture, photography, installation, embroidery, textile, street fashion and tattoo. The artists features several Pacific artists including Niki Hastings-McFall, Lonnie Hutchinson, John Ioane, Juse1, Leilani Kake, Shigeyuki Kihara, Andy Leleisi’uao, Janet Lilo, Siliga David Setoga, Ema Tavola, and Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi. The artists come from Aotearoa/New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the Pacific coast of Mexico and Australia and their work explores a range of issues and concerns such as identity and identification, spirituality, the environment, globalization, technology, representation, colonisation, and what it is to speak from the position of different cultures. The show celebrates over fifteen years of independent curating, including landmark exhibitions Island Crossings (2000) – the first exhibition of contemporary Maori and Pacific art to tour Australia; Out of the Blue (2001); and Urban Pacific (2007): all of national and international significance. Giles Peterson lectures at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design and will present a curator’s floor talk on Saturday 26 April, 12noon – 1.30pm. The exhibition runs from 17 April – 9 May 2009 at the Fresh Gallery Otara.
Image courtesy of Fresh Gallery Otara
