An exhibition of acrylic painting by a South Auckland-based artist has been described as “unique,” “beautiful” and “new” according to a leading Tongan art scholar and academic.
Benjamin Works, who is of Tongan and Scottish heritage, showed his work at the Mangere Arts Centre in a public exhibition entitled For the King and Country, that ran from October 16 to November 21.
Works mainly painted on board using red and black acrylic paints. The colours are particularly used in Tongan material arts and fine arts.
Professor Hufanga ‘Okusitino Mahina, an acclaimed art scholar and artist in his own right, said the two acrylic colours were prominent in the arts of kafa kula (red sennit) and kafa ‘uli (black sennit) and kele ‘umea (clay) and vaitohi ‘uli (black ink) used in pottery and koka’anga (ngatu making).
Professor Hufanga said Works’ art portrayed the same conflicting, but beautiful, ideas that were embedded by Tongan artists in the past when decorating their wooden weapons such as clubs, arrows and bows.
They were also found in the Tongan music instruments such as tukipitu (hitting the bamboo on the ground so it can produce sound), blowing mouth-organs, drumming and blowing fangufangu (nose flutes).
According to Professor Hufanga, Works has successfully transferred these ideas into his paintings such as The Guardian, The Explorer, King and Country, Sign of Times and Ikai ke tapu (Not Taboo).
Professor Hufanga opened Work’s exhibition by blowing the fangufangu. This was followed by an opening speech by the Director of the Mangere Arts Centre, James Pinker.
The main points
- An exhibition of acrylic painting by a South Auckland-based artist has been described as “unique”, “beautiful” and “new” according to a leading Tongan art scholar and academic.
- Benjamin Works, who is of Tongan and Scottish heritage, showed his work at the Mangere Arts Centre in a public exhibition entitled: For the King and Country, that ran from October 16 to November 21.
- Works mainly painted on board using red and black acrylic paint. The colours are particularly used in Tongan material arts and fine arts.
- Professor Hufanga ‘Okusitino Mahina said Works’ art portrayed the same conflicting, but beautiful, ideas that were embedded by Tongan artists in the past.
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