Benjamin Work Explained

Benjamin Work
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Nationality:New Zealand
Known For:painting, murals
Style:motifs from ancient Tongan artefacts
Caption:Work in 2023
Notable Works:Motutapu II (2021)

Benjamin Work (born 1979, Auckland, New Zealand) is an artist from New Zealand with Tongan and Scottish heritage.[1] He is well known for his murals across New Zealand, as well as his paintings inspired by his genealogy back to Tonga.[2]

Drawing on his Tongan heritage, Work began to explore new directions in his art over the last decade. Inspired by the iconography found on Tongan treasures such as ngatu (bark cloth), fala (Tongan mats), and 'akau tau (war clubs), his refined, graphic paintings aimed to find new spaces and ways for audiences to engage with Tonga's visual culture. Work's art found a home both inside institutions and on the streets.[3]

Work's early life was marked by a diverse cultural upbringing, a passion for art, and a deep exploration of his Tongan heritage. He has developed a deep interest in and conducted extensive research on aspects of Tongan history and culture.[4] This exploration has allowed him to incorporate elements of Tongan traditions and symbols into his artwork, creating a unique fusion of contemporary and cultural influences. Work is part of the urban art movement and has exhibited in Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, United States, Cook Islands, and Tonga.

In 2015, Work co-curated a display at the Auckland Museum with portraits from Tonga representing the royal lines of Tu’i Tonga, Tu’i Ha’atakalaua and Tu’i Kanokupolu.[5]

In 2021, Work created a big 330-square-metre mural Motutapu II across the floor and up two walls of Canterbury Museum inspired by the distinctive carved patterns on Tongan ‘akau tau (war clubs) in the museum’s collection.[6]

In 2023, Work curated Tukufakaholo, Tongan Contemporary, at Bergman Gallery, featuring 8 Tongan artists from Auckland.

Work's work are held public and private collections throughout New Zealand, such as in Auckland Museum,[7] Canterbury Museum,[8] and The Arts House Trust.[9]

In 2024, Work was awarded the inaugural Fatu Feu’u Pacific Arts Prize from University of Auckland[10]

Selected residencies

Selected solo and collaborative exhibitions

Selected group exhibitions

Publications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BENJAMIN WORK . 2023-10-01 . TAUTAI – GUIDING PACIFIC ARTS . en-US.
  2. Web site: Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery Benjamin Work And Brendan Kitto: Motutapu . 2023-10-01 . en-US.
  3. Web site: Woods . Dr Reuben . 2021-06-09 . Benjamin Work Talks About His Giant Mural, Motutapu II . 2023-06-06 . Canterbury Museum.
  4. Web site: Benjamin Work . 2023-06-04 . Tautai Pacific Arts Trust.
  5. Web site: Artwork Production: Benjamin Work . Auckland Museum . 8 July 2023.
  6. Web site: Gates . Charlie . 2021-04-14 . Artist creates huge mural in Canterbury Museum inspired by Tongan art . 2023-12-14 . Stuff . en.
  7. Web site: Artwork . 2020-10-02 . Auckland Museum.
  8. Web site: Artwork: Motutapu II, Bejamin Work . 2023-11-28 . Canterbury Museum Collection Online . en.
  9. Web site: Benjamin WORK . 2023-10-01 . The Arts House Trust Collection Online . en.
  10. Web site: Benjamin Work, the inaugural Fatu Feu’u Pacific Arts Prize recipient . 2024-08-29 . Artnow . en.
  11. Web site: Benjamin Work McCahon House . 2024-08-29 . mccahonhouse.org.nz . en.
  12. Web site: Artist-in-Residence: Benjamin Work . 2023-10-01 . Para Site . en-US.
  13. Web site: Benjamin Work, Tautahi – In the Face of Adversity Contemporary Hum . 2023-10-01 . contemporaryhum.com . en.
  14. Web site: Bodies of Water, Made of Land . 2023-10-01 . Artnow . en.
  15. Web site: 2023-04-02 . Artist Talk: Harrison Freeth and Benjamin Work Humanitix . 2023-11-27 . events.humanitix.com . en.
  16. Web site: BENJAMIN WORK AND BRENDAN KITTO: MOTUTAPU . 2023-05-29 . Te Uru.
  17. Web site: To'a Motu . 2023-10-01 . Artnow . en.
  18. Web site: TeTuhi . 2023-11-27 . tetuhi.art.
  19. Web site: digital . mata . 2018-11-05 . BENJAMIN WORK: WHENUA FONUA 'ENUA . 2023-06-06 . Uxbridge.
  20. Web site: 2017-09-18 . Return to Havaiki UFO Islands Benjamin Work & Andy Leleisi'uao . 2023-11-27 . . en-US.
  21. Web site: Latif . Justin . 2016-09-01 . Benjamin to bring Tongan war clubs to Big Apple . 2023-10-01 . Stuff . en.
  22. Web site: 10 May 2015 . For King And Country – Ma'ae Tu'i mo e Fonua. . 2023-05-28 . Tautai Pacific Arts Trust.
  23. Web site: Laita . Olivia . TOUTOUTĀ – A Solo Exhibition by Benjamin Work . 2023-10-01 . Olivialaita.
  24. Web site: 2014-03-13 . I SEE RED, I SEE RED . 2023-07-08 . Depot Press.
  25. Web site: Horizon . 2023-10-01 . artguide.artforum.com . en-US.
  26. Web site: Tukufakaholo – Tongan Contemporary . 2023-10-01 . Artnow . en.
  27. Web site: Vano . Kendall . 2022-07-13 . Bergman Gallery Exhibition: Te Atuitanga – Between our Cloak of Stars . 2023-11-28 . TP+ . en-NZ.
  28. Web site: The Most Dedicated: An Aotearoa Graffiti Story . 2023-11-28 . Artnow . en.
  29. Web site: 2016-12-13 . Post-Graffiti Pacific . 2023-10-01 . The Arts House Trust . en-NZ.
  30. Web site: 2016-11-13 . Benjamin Work . 2023-11-28 . PIMPI KNOWS . en.

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