Mahiriki Tangaroa

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Mahiriki Tangaroa
Born1973 (age 50–51)
Auckland, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand, Cook Islands
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury
Known forpainting
StyleCubism

Mahiriki Tangaroa (born 1973)[1] is a New Zealand-born Cook Islands photographer and painter.[2] She is a former director of the Cook Islands National Museum. She is recognised as a leading contemporary Cook Islands artist,[3] and her work is regularly exhibited in galleries in New Zealand and the Cook Islands.[1]

Of Cook Islands heritage, Tangaroa was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Christchurch.[4] She studied photography at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, before returning to the Cook Islands in 1998.[4] In 1998, Ian George curated Paringa Ou, the first major exhibition of contemporary art by Cook Island artists residing in New Zealand featuring artists such as Ani O'Neill, Sylvia Marsters, Mahiriki Tangaroa, Michel Tuffery, Jim Vivieaere, Ian George, and Kay George, the exhibition travelled to the National Museum in Fiji, Cook Islands National Museum, as well as Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland, New Zealand.[5] The exhibition was sponsored by the New Zealand High Commission.[6]

In 2000 Tangaroa was appointed director of the Cook Islands National Museum, a position she held for three years.[1] She subsequently worked as the director of the Beachcomber Gallery in Avarua.[7]

Tangaroa began to paint in 1999.[7] Her work is inspired by ancient Cook Islands art and artefacts, including the "fisherman's god" Tangaroa, the war god Rongo and the goddess of Aitutaki.[8] Tangaroa's paintings ignites the discussions about the loss of pre-colonial and pre-Christianity culture in the Cook Islands, how indigenous gods that Cook Islanders once worshipped is turned into mass produced commercial exploitation.[9] Her exhibitions draws large crowds in the Cook Islands.[10]

In 2010, Tangaroa was invited to curate the exhibition Atua: sacred art from Polynesia,[3] which was displayed at the National Gallery of Australia and the St. Louis Art Museum in the USA.[11]

Tangaroa is the niece of Cook Islands politician Tina Browne.[12]

In 2022, Tangaroa had a solo exhibition titled Kaveinga – Angels of the Ocean, presented by Bergman Gallery in Venice, Italy as part of European Cultural Centre: Personal Structures coinciding Venice Biennale.[13][14]

Selected solo exhibitions[edit]

  • 2022: Kaveinga - Angels of the Ocean, European Cultural Centre - Italy: Personal Structures: Reflections, Venice, Italy[15]
  • 2020: In a Perfect World, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands[16]
  • 2019: Earth, Wind & Fire... Irrespective of Place, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands[17]
  • 2019: Kia Maeva Tatou, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
  • 2016: Blessed again by the Gods, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
  • 2009: M101, BCA Gallery, Photographic Exhibition, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
  • 2008: Mangoes in the Morning, Gallery De Novo, Dunedin, New Zealand[18]
  • 2008: Exit of Itoro, Reef Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 2003: Avatea, Letham Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

Selected group exhibitions[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Ben Bergman. "Mahiriki Tangaroa". Bergman Gallery. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Local artist's talent well received". Cook Islands News. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  3. ^ a b Charles Pitt (15 September 2010). "Local artist to help organize major international exhibition of Polynesian art works". Cook Islands Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b Nigel Benson (9 June 2008). "Ancient inspiration, modern application". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ "TeTuhi". tetuhi.art. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  6. ^ Stevenson, Karen. "Paringa Ou publication" (PDF). Te Tuhi. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  7. ^ a b "Mahiriki Tangaroa". Gallery de Novo. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Mahiriki Tangaroa". Auckland Art Fair 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. ^ Benson, Nigel (2008-06-09). "Ancient inspiration, modern application". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  10. ^ "Local artist's talent well received". Cook Islands News. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  11. ^ Mahiriki Tangaroa (4 June 2014). "Atua Sacred Gods from Polynesia Exhibition - A Major International Exhibition of Polynesian Traditional Cultural Artefacts" (PDF). Cook Islands Herald. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  12. ^ Melina Etches (24 July 2019). "Making her art the real priority". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  13. ^ Structures, Personal. "Personal Structures". Personal Structures. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  14. ^ Williams, Al (2022-04-23). "Taking our art to the world". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  15. ^ "Mahiriki Tangaroa | 23 April - 27 November 2022 - Overview". Bergman Gallery. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  16. ^ Samoglou, Emmanuel (2020-10-25). "In a time of darkness, local artist sees light". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  17. ^ Etches, Melina (2020-08-18). "In the name of art". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  18. ^ "Busy time ahead for leading artist". Cook Islands Herald. 2007-03-19. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  19. ^ "Te Atuitanga - Between our Cloak of Stars | 25 June - 16 July 2022 - Overview". Bergman Gallery. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  20. ^ "OCEANIA NOW: Contemporary Art from the Pacific | Contemporary Hum". contemporaryhum.com. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  21. ^ "OCEANIA NOW : Contemporary Art from the Pacific". onlineonly.christies.com. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  22. ^ a b c "TeTuhi". tetuhi.art. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
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