This exhibition is now closed

Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania

30 May 2020 –
3 July 2022

Experience the Gallery’s collection from the perspective of our place in Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean.

Te Wheke means the octopus in te reo Māori. For many cultures around the Pacific Ocean, this resourceful, adventurous creature is a symbol of early voyages from the Polynesian homelands of Hawaiki. Full of stories of migration, connection and belonging, this huge new exhibition reflects the connections and tensions that shape our past, present and future.

Te Wheke includes tivaevae, raranga (weaving), whakairo (carving), painting, works on paper, video, sculpture, photography and installation art – all telling a new story of Aotearoa’s art history, looking from the Pacific outwards.

Developed in consultation with Stephanie Oberg. 

Read a review of this show in the British magazine Apollo

Curator:
Stephanie Oberg
Peter Vangioni
Lara Strongman
Nathan Pōhio
Felicity Milburn
Ken Hall

Exhibition number: 1093

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<p>Kelcy Taratoa: Te Tāhū o ngā Maunga Tūmatakahuki</p>

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Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania

Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania

Welcome – nau mai haere mai. Kei Te Ararau o Tangaroa / Pathways Across Oceania is an attempt to understand the Gallery’s collection from the perspective of our place in Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean. Full of stories of migration, connection and belonging, this huge new exhibition reflects the connections and tensions that shape our past, present and future.

Notes
Massive wall painting marks opening of Te Wheke at Christchurch Art Gallery

Massive wall painting marks opening of Te Wheke at Christchurch Art Gallery

A 36-metre painting by artist Kelcy Taratoa is part of a new exhibition opening at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū on Saturday.

Ayesha Green All of my Lovers are Immigrants (Smooth my Pillow) (detail) 2020. Acrylic on canvas. Private collection

John Pule Not of This Time (Dreamland) 2008. Oil on canvas. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 2019

Robin White and Ruha Fifita We are the small axe 2015. Natural dyes and pigments on barkcloth. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 2019

Angela Tiatia Lick 2015. Single-channel high definition video 16:9, colour, sound. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 2018

Ani O'Neill ‘etu iti (detail) 2006. Kikau (coconut midrib), feathers, raffia, shells, beads, sequins, videotape, recycled plastic, nylon yarn, wire. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 2018