Exhibition

Johnson Witehira

16 July – 23 August, TOI Gallery, Pataka

Johnson Witehira - Tangiwha

Johnson Witehira’s new work cuts close to the bone, pairing the imagery of skulls, unborn children and farmers clothing with kowhaiwhai. These seemingly unrelated objects are closely related to the notion of whakapapa though, through the themes of life and death and continuation. The series developed as Witehira reflected upon the recent passing of his grandfather (a farmer from Taumarunui), his grandmother and then cousin. The title, which combines the words tangi and taniwha, references these recent deaths and taniwha as a metaphor for death.