Perfecting the art of smoke and mirrors
A new exhibition from Bob Jahnke is lighting up Te Manawa with the art of illusion.
The Palmerston North sculptor and Professor of Maori Visual Arts at Te Putahi-a-toi has turned neon forms into diamonds, triangles, crosses and clubs, and words such as ata and tuku into spatial reflections that appear endless.
Jahnke said Ata – A Third Reflection is a continuation from two previous exhibitions where he has used ata as a metaphorical device.
‘‘Ata is the link between the past, the present and the future. It is an endless narrative or whakapapa. Whakapapa and genealogy is about layers of connections and all these works are layered. There are multiple dimensions in them.
The whole idea was to create a modern version of tukutuku panels using neon lights and mirrors.’’
Jahnke said this exhibition also picked up the thread of reflection and exploring light and perception. He also said the element of optical illusion made the works great for kids, especially one titled Tuku.
‘‘The kids love it and Maori kids understand what the terms tuku means.
Tuku is used in tuku iho, which means to bequeath, to hand on.
And then there’s tukutuku, the lattice work in the meeting house. So a double play on bequeathing and handing on and the infinite depths that are created.’’
A new sculpture by Israel Tangaroa Birch, acquired by the gallery for the Te Manawa collection, will have it’s first showing in conjunction with Jahnke’s exhibition. Jahnke said it fits in really well.
‘‘It has mirrors and reflection and it’s a nice work in terms of what it does. As you move through it patterns change.’’
The installation of Jahnke’s works at Te Manawa coincided with his new sculpture Nga Huruhuru Rangatira being erected in Palmerston North’s city centre.
The 6.4 metre-tall archway of ground stainless steel huia feathers frames the view of the Te Peeti Te Awe Awe statue from the Plaza corner of The Square.
Ata – A Third Reflection opens at Te Manawa on November 25 and runs until February 6.