Mahiriki Tangaroa

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Mahiriki Tangaroa (born 1973)[1] is a New Zealand-born Cook Islands photographer and painter. She is a former director of the Cook Islands National Museum. She is recognised as a leading contemporary Cook Islands artist,[2] and her work is regularly exhibited in galleries in New Zealand and the Cook Islands.[1]

Of Cook Islands heritage, Tangaroa was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Christchurch.[3] She studied photography at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, before returning to the Cook Islands in 1998.[3]

In 2000 she was appointed director of the Cook Islands National Museum, a position she held for three years.[1] She subsequently worked as the director of the Beachcomber Gallery in Avarua.[4]

She began to paint in 1999.[4] Her work is inspired by ancient Cook Islands art and artefacts, including the "fisherman's god" Tangaroa, the war god Rongo and the goddess of Aitutaki.[5] In 2010 she was invited to curate the exhibition Atua: sacred art from Polynesia,[2] which was displayed at the National Gallery of Australia and the St. Louis Art Museum in the USA.[6]

Tangaroa is the niece of Cook Islands politician Tina Browne.[7]

Selected exhibitions[]

  • 2019: Earth, Wind & Fire, Irrespective of Place, Bergman Gallery (Rarotonga)
  • 2019: Kia Maeva Tatou, Bergman Gallery (Rarotonga)
  • 2019: Auckland Art Fair, Bergman Gallery (Auckland, NZ)
  • 2016: Blessed again by the Gods, Bergman Gallery (Rarotonga)
  • 2010: MANUIA, BCA Gallery @ the American Indian Community House, New York
  • 1999: Tu Fa’atasi, Aotea Centre (Auckland, NZ)
  • 2009: M101, BCA Gallery, Photographic Exhibition (Rarotonga)
  • 2008: Mangoes in the Morning, Gallery De Novo (Dunedin, NZ)
  • 2008: Exit of Itoro, Reef Gallery (Auckland, NZ)
  • 2003: Avatea, Letham Gallery (Auckland, NZ)
  • 1998: Paringa Ou, Cook Islands National Museum, Fiji Museum, Fisher Gallery (Auckland, NZ)

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Ben Bergman. "Mahiriki Tangaroa". Bergman Gallery. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Charles Pitt (15 September 2010). "Local artist to help organize major international exhibition of Polynesian art works". Cook Islands Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b Nigel Benson (9 June 2008). "Ancient inspiration, modern application". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Mahiriki Tangaroa". Gallery de Novo. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Mahiriki Tangaroa". Auckland Art Fair 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ Mahiriki Tangaroa (4 June 2014). "Atua Sacred Gods from Polynesia Exhibition - A Major International Exhibition of Polynesian Traditional Cultural Artefacts" (PDF). Cook Islands Herald. p. 12-13. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  7. ^ Melina Etches (24 July 2019). "Making her art the real priority". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
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