Artist’s first solo show is gallery’s last
A¯ kina Gallery’s closing show a taste of what’s to come
Nephi Tupaea’s first solo show is also A¯ kina Gallery’s last show in its current physical space, with Nephi coming full circle in a way, being one of the artists featured in A¯ kina’s opening exhibition and now again in its closing exhibition.
This was not a conscious decision on the gallery’s part as, with the timing of everything, it just happened to end up ¯that way.
Akina Gallery owner Sacha van den Berg said: “Like most things that happen at A¯ kina, we are guided by our tu¯puna and we trust in the process.”
Running from June 24 to July 13, Nephi’s first solo show, The Effeminate Gaze, features a body of paintings that depict effeminate forms draped with ko¯whaiwhai, exploring gender, religion, trauma and colonisation.
To show this, she has used a bold and unique colour palate and has the ability to pair colours that would normally clash, presenting them in a way that gives life, vibrancy, depth and meaning to the paintings.
Nephi is a multi-media artist and long-standing member of the artist collective Pacific Sisters and iwi Nga¯ti Kahungunu.
She’s renowned for her creative dance performances, installations, body adornment, spoken word, fibre activation and innovative costume designs. For her solo show, Nephi’s art practice is guided through tu¯ puna intervention, where tikanga creates new conversations and develops indigenous symbols and images.
Gallery owner Sacha explained Nephi’s show is in recognition of the people who have paved the way to make it easier and safer for her and all takata¯ pui [LGBTQIA+ people]. Nephi is taking the next step of looking at herself in the present.
“With a long history as a creative, there is a solidness in the foundation she has created. Her solo show asks of herself, ‘What is me now . . . what is me in the future?’ Sacha said.
The artist’s use of ko¯whaiwhai on the canvas connects her to te ao Ma¯ori, continually strengthened with every stoke painted. That becomes meditative and spiritual, with spirituality deconstructing colonial narratives.
“Clearing room to build fresh stories
and taking ko¯whaiwhai to its origins within manakitaanga gives us love, security and sanctuary, which is what we see in Nephi’s paintings. These are a true embodiment of the person that is Nephi,” Sacha said.
She is grateful for the timing of this exhibition, and said while this is a closing show, it is an example of things to come.
“This show will give you a taster of
what our future pop-up exhibitions will be like. They will be celebrations and, by natural behaviour, they will be collaborative.”
Nephi’s long-time friend and photographer Vivienne Haldane is set to make a special guest appearance with her iconic circa 1990s black-and-white darkroom prints of the Pacific Sisters.
The Hawke’s Bay Rainbow Hub community are also joining the exhibition opening party and bringing a performative flash of colour by way of performances.
When asked why people should come and check out the exhibition, Sacha said: “This show is a celebration. It’s exciting, it’s fresh, it’s new.”
As well as it being Nephi’s very first solo show, A¯ kina Gallery is running a programme alongside the exhibition with workshops, research sessions and a panel discussion.
“What we are doing is all-inclusive, and we invite everyone to come to check it out and take part. The party is on Saturday, June 24 at 3pm, and the show and programme will run from then till July 13.