Mana Takatāpui: Taera Tāne opens this Saturday (29 January, 2011) at City Gallery Wellington in the Deane Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand.
Mana Takatāpui: Taera Tāne is a visual art exhibition exploring Pacific perspectives on gay culture and male sexuality in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand society is part of the Outgames Visual Arts Programme.
Takatāpui is a customary Māori word describing a loving and intimate relationship between two people of the same sex. In more recent times the term has been adopted as a term for gay, lesbian and transgender culture in the Pacific. Taera Tane refers to male ‘sexual desire’ or ‘style’.
Mana Takatāpui: Taera Tāne presents the voices of five artists of Samoan and Māori descent; Fear Brampton, Tanu Gago, Richard Kereopa, Dan Taulapapa McMullin and Hoteera Riri. Unlocking stereotypes and exploring double standards, each artist looks at the interplay between culture and sexuality.
Artist Biographies
Hoteera Riri (Te Whakatohea, Te Whanau-a-Apanui) holds a Bachelor of Maori Visual Arts from Toimairangi School of Maori Visual Arts, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Hastings (2007). Currently he is artist in residence at the special effects department of the Cut Above Academy in Auckland.
Dan Taulapapa McMullin (Samoan) lives in Laguna, California, USA. He has had many residencies and exhibited extensively internationally. Most recently he exhibited in Samoan Art: Urban (2010) at the De Young Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco where was he was artist in residence, and currently has a solo exhibition at the Gorman Museum, University of California.
Tanu Gago (Samoan) lives in Auckland and holds a Bachelor of Screen and Performing Arts from Unitec, Auckland (2009). Recently he exhibited his first solo video installation YOU LOVE MY FRESH (2010) at Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, Auckland.
Richard Kereopa (Te Arawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Tainui, Nga Puhi) holds a Masters of Fine Arts from Whitecliffe College of Art and Design (2009) and currently tutors Raranga (weaving) contemporary practice at Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua.
Fear Brampton (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Kai Tahu, Waitaha, English, Scottish) holds a Masters of Art and Design from Auckland University of Technology (2009), a Bachelors of Fine Art from the University of Auckland (1987) and a Bachelor of Science also from the University of Auckland (1982).
Public Programmes
Artists’ Talk
Saturday 29 January, 1pm
Open City—Out in the Gallery
Friday 18 March, 6–9:30pm
City Gallery Wellington, 101 Wakefield St, Civic Square, Wellington, New Zealand
Further Information
Press Release: Mana Takatāpui—Five artists in the Deane Gallery
Photos from opening via Ema Tavola
Source and Image: City Gallery Wellington
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