PACIFIC SUPERHEROES

ethKnowcentrix

museums inside the artist

Shigeyuki Kihara - George Nuku - Roseanna Raymond - Lisa Reihana

Check it out 10 days to go UK famz get to it, PACIFIC SUPERHERO up and support whats good in your hood! There is a private viewing/opening to this on the 9th Sept so arohamai if you didn’t get an invite go find a friend that did! But there’s plenty to see, do and interact with these culturally inspiring, proud to represent Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands worldwide, hot Dam!! Artists!!!  Get to it!!! Mauri Ora :), kia ora Precious.

The first exhibition of its kind in London, ethKnowcentrix Museums Inside the
Artist features mixed media and performance work exploring the idea of the
ethnographic gaze, by four leading artists from Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the Pacific Islands.

Visions of exotic beauty and mystery have dominated British perceptions of the Pacific Islands since the time of Captain Cook. Fuelled by the fantastic narratives of returning explorers, anthropologists and artists, this exotic imagery provided the basis for museum displays and underpinned the emerging discipline of ethnography (the classification of people and cultures). Yet, while the Europeans were busy imagining ‘Noble Savages’ and ‘Dusky Maidens’, the Pacific Islanders were looking back at them, negotiating, exchanging and sharing goods and ideas on their own terms.

This exhibition reconsiders the spaces of meeting, looking and representing across cultures, and explores how the ethnographic gaze has been reciprocated and challenged. With acerbic wit, these works promise to radically subvert the European legacy of museum classification, reclaim popular imagery of Pacific Island culture, and offer fresh perspectives for a shared global future.

EVENTS
Artists’ Forum nau te rourou, naku te rourou ka ora te manuwhiri
Saturday 12 September, 10 am – 7.30pm (£15/ £10 conc.)

A day of talks, discussion and artists’ presentations to reconsider the representation of cultural policies in today’s global art markets. Speakers include Malika Booker, Raimi Gbadamosi, Isaac Julien and the exhibiting artists Rosanna Raymond, George Nuku, Shigeyuki Kihara and Lisa Reihana. Price includes coffee, tea, a Polynesian meal and an evening reception.

Artists’ Talk Tuesday 15 September, 6.30pm (Free)

Rosanna Raymond, Lisa Reihana and George Nuku discuss their work. Shigeyuki Kihara performs ‘Taualuga: the Last Dance’ which combines photography, dance, sound and historical costume.

Poroporoaki (Farewell) Saturday 10 October, 3.00pm (Free)

A day of celebration to mark the end of the exhibition, with the UK based
Polynesian community and artists George Nuku and Rosanna Raymond, featuring artists’ talks, performances and a final closing ceremony. Traditional Polynesian food and drinks will be on sale.

For further information please visit www.octobergallery.co.uk/events
For bookings please contact Danielle. Tel: 44 (0)20 7831 1618
email: rentals@octobergallery.co.uk