Techno Maori: Maori Art in the Digital Age

28 September - 2 December 2001 in the Entire Gallery
While at least two major international art museums (the Whitney and San Francisco Modern) have presented major exhibitions in 2001 tackling the effect digital technology is having on contemporary art practise, far away from the art world’s physical epicentres in Aotearoa / New Zealand the subject is being explored specifically in relation to the country’s Māori artists, examining how indigenous identity continues to be expressed in an increasingly digitised and globalised cultural setting.

Techno Māori—Māori Art in the Digital Age brings together work by fifteen contemporary Māori artists, expressing the diverse ways in which they are utilising or inspired by digital technology in their use of traditional, modern and contemporary media. Exploring the cultural opportunities opened up by technology, the exhibition is held concurrently at City Gallery Wellington and Pataka Porirua Museum of Arts and Cultures. A CD-ROM acts as shared third virtual exhibition space binding together the two physical spaces of the exhibition.

Included are artists with rising international reputations, including Berlin-based Peter Robinson, who, together with artist Jacqueline Fraser represented New Zealand at the Venice Biennale 2001, and Michael Parekowhai, whose celebrated installation 10 Guitars was shown at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh as part of Popular Cultures. These well known artists are be joined by others whose reputations are just starting to be established.

Exhibiting Artists: Shane Cotton, Darryn George, Olivia Haddon, Eugene Hansen, Dean Hapete, Robert Jahnke, Maureen Lander, John Fairclough, Rongotai Lomas, Ngahiraka Mason, Michael Parekowhai, Reuben Paterson, Nathan Pohio, Rachael Rakena, Lisa Reihana, Natalie Robertson, Peter Robinson, Keri Whaitiri, Wayne Youle.