January 2024

A new series of work, showcasing an entourage of neo-pop crocodiles, features in a new exhibition opening at City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi next month.

Turbo Croc 2.0 riffs off the evolution of multi-disciplinary artist Ahsin Ahsin’s half-human/half crocodile hybrid ‘Croc’ character, born out of research into amphora black-figure vase paintings, common on Greek vases between the 6th to 4th Century BCE. Also inspired by 1980s and 1990s’ sci-fi films and skate culture, the Crocs have evolved to include Robo Croc, Black Figure Croc, Flamboyant and Thicc Croc.

Curator Toi Māori Israel Randell says the colourful, playful show celebrates the artist and embodies a “more is more mindset” with each amphora, a portal into a neo-pop hyper-space.

“Ahsin Ahsin has street murals in Taupo, Tauranga and Whangarei and this show prompts conversation around street art in the public space versus street art in the private space. How do we view it? What is our relationship to it?

“It’s great to have a street artist in our space to celebrate the street art community in Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington.”

A collection of “Miami Vice-style crocs” in varying sizes also feature in the show along with a new mural work reuniting the band of Crocs.

Ahsin Ahsin is an artist from the islands of Aitu and Aitutaki. He has completed major mural works as part of Boon street-art festival and Street Prints Mauao. He has also exhibited throughout Aotearoa in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Auckland and Melbourne.

Turbo Croc 2.0 runs from 3 February – 19 May 2024.