“I will always fight ‘til the end of my painting days to allow glitter to have the freedom to talk past the definitions it's been placed in. I think it's a courtesy we owe to everything. To allow everything to be bigger than the sum of its parts.”
Join us for an evening of conversation between artist Reuben Paterson and Dr Hinemoa Elder.
The Only Dream Left is the largest exhibition to date of Reuben Paterson’s world-bending practice, celebrating his almost three-decade career. Through the magical and transformative properties of light, visitors are invited to navigate the sparkling constellations created by his artworks in the galleries. The histories and stories woven into their lavish colours, forms and materials fill the spaces with imagination and ideas. This exhibition acknowledges Paterson’s immense contribution to the art and culture of Aotearoa and reveals bold new directions and moves for the artist’s career.
Presented alongside The Only Dream Left, this evening's discussion presents a special opportunity for audiences to hear Paterson reflect on his practice in conversation with Dr Hinemoa Elder. Together they will look back over his practice while thinking about the journey forward. Expect provocation, intimacy, and joy. Come and hear the stories to be found when we explore the kaleidoscopic playground of Paterson practice.
Galleries will be open 5.30pm-7pm for a chance to see The Only Dream Left.
Conversation 7pm-8pm.
Cash bar will be available.
Reuben Paterson
Reuben Paterson 1973- (Ngati Rangitihi, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi, Scottish) is renowned for glitter and diamond dust paintings. Paterson combines formal approaches to painting abstract and geometric lines and ornate detailing of patterns to stimulate curiosity and joy. His subjects also include animals and birdlife. Paterson's use of Māori inspired motifs link to recent and ancient memories that are visceral and ethereal. A third-generation contemporary Māori artist, he redefines and explores the complexities of social and familial relationships.
Paterson’s sculptural work engages with the dynamic subtleties of light, with his recent work Guide Kaiārahi (2021) at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, and was announced by Artsy as one of their international 2021 Best of Public Art. Paterson graduated from the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts in 1997, following which he was awarded a residency in France as part of the prestigious Moet & Chandon Art Fellowship.
Paterson has undertaken major public sculpture commissions and international exhibitions including the Prague Biennial and Centro de Arte Caja De Burgos, Spain; The Cambridge Museum, England; and the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia. Paterson has also undertaken a major commission for the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial and the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane and for the Auckland Art Gallery’s education centre.
Paterson is represented by Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland, Page Galleries, Wellington and Ben Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga.
Dr Hinemoa Elder
Dr Hinemoa Elder (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi) is the mother of two adult children. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist. She currently works at Starship Childrens’ Hospital, Mother and Baby/ Child and Family Units. She is on the Board of The Helen Clark Foundation and is Patron of “Share My Super” a charity aimed at ending child poverty in Aotearoa. Hinemoa received the NZ Order of Merit for services to Māori and Psychiatry in 2019.
She has a PhD (2012) and NZ Health Research Council Eru Pomare Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2014-18) researching traumatic brain injury and has developed Māori specific approaches for the whole whānau (extended families) affected by traumatic brain injuries. These resources are now used in rehabilitation services. She continues to work in TBI research and in the assessment and treatment of whānau affected by TBI.
Hinemoa travelled to Antarctica in late 2019 as part of the Homeward Bound, a global, women in science leadership programme. She is a member of the Busara Circle, who assist the development of members of the Homeward Bound programme.
Hinemoa is a staunch advocate for fostering efforts that bring Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga, the Māori language and cultural lore, to bear in understanding the links between climate emergency, mental distress and ill health and to effective change.
Dr Elder is a deputy psychiatrist member of the NZ Mental Health Review Tribunal and was a member of the roundtable who contributed to the recently published NZ Defence Force wellbeing strategy
Dr Elder is the author of two best-selling books. Aroha: Māori wisdom for a contented life lived in harmony with our planet was published in 2020 and is included in the Oprah Winfrey Book club. Wawata Daily Māori wisdom guided by Hina, the Māori moon, was published in 2022.
www.hinemoaelder.com
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