Mahiriki Tangaroa Explained

Mahiriki Tangaroa
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Nationality:New Zealand, Cook Islands
Known For:painting
Alma Mater:University of Canterbury
Style:Cubism

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.

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, 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

Selected group exhibitions

Notes and References

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

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