Benjamin to bring Tongan war clubs to the MET in New York City Featured
South Auckland based visual artist Benjamin Work will be presenting his arts practice and findings at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, September 9th, supported by Creative New Zealand.
1 September, 2016. A south Auckland artist is set to have his culturally inspired work exhibited in one of the most prestigious galleries in the world, The MET on September 9.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is among the most visited galleries in the world and Benjamin Work admits this is a once in a lifetime experience.
"I feel very honoured for this opportunity and I must acknowledge Creative NZ for their support," he says.
"I have had so many people invest in to me and my arts practice, to which I am so grateful. It does take a village."
Benjamin's paintings are inspired by Tongan war clubs paintings as well as research into historic accounts, particularly the prophecies surrounding Captain James Cook's expeditions to the Pacific.
But he says his work is also about learning from the past.
"My arts practice explores Oceanic history namely Tongan history and beliefs. I'm interested in how we can look back and learn more about ourselves, then taking that knowledge and using it as a guide to navigate our future."
It has been an interesting and unconventional journey for Benjamin's work to be featured.
"Last year I visited British and European museums that held Tongan artefacts for research purposes. On this trip I met Dr Maia Nuku, an associate curator at The MET," he says.
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"Dr Nuku is one of the researchers who helped rediscover a sacred Tongan headdress in a Spanish museum and she then invited me to present my work at The MET as I often reference the sacred headdress [in my own work]. "
Benjamin who is of Tongan descent lives in Manukau and wants to encourage other artists not to give up on their dreams.
"Artists need to be persistent and tenacious no matter what type of upbringing or location you have lived in. Don't give up."
What The MET?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially "the Met" is located in New York City and is the largest art museum in the United States, and among the most visited art museums in the world.
Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among seventeen curatorial departments.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 and was originally located at 681 Fifth Avenue.
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6 comments
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Firstly, Mālō 'aupito to Nepituni for the support.
I would like to acknowledge Prof. Hūfanga 'Okusitino Māhina who has been supportive, informative, creative and innovative from the day I met him. This has been an amazing journey of discovery which continues to unfold. I am very greatful for Hūfanga and other elders investing into the next generation, you are creating a rich legacy for the Kingdom of Tonga and beyond. Ofa Atu Fau -
Firstly, Mālō 'aupito to Nepituni for the support.
I would like to acknowledge Prof. Hūfanga 'Okusitino Māhina who has been supportive, informative, creative and innovative from the day I met him. This has been an amazing journey of discovery which continues to unfold. I am very greatful for Hūfanga and other elders investing into the next generation, you are creating a rich legacy for the Kingdom of Tonga and beyond. Ofa Atu Fau -
Tapu moe matanga pea tulou moe ha'ofanga kae fai ha fakahoha'a moha huhumama koe toe tanakia kihe kaveinga 'oku fai hono talanga mo taulama. 'Oku 'ikai ngata pe he fekau'aki 'ae "kula" moe "'uli" moe "ta" moe "va" he 'ata-ki-loto moe "fuo" moe "uho" he 'ata-ki-tu'a ka 'oku toe fetu'utaki moe la'a he 'aho moe mahina he po, mo'ui moe mate moe ha fua
'Oku ngali koe 'uhinga ia hono ngaue'aki 'ae "lau po" (po taha / potaha, po ua / poua moe ha fua) he "mate" kae ngauekai 'ae "lau 'aho" he "mo'ui" (fai'aho moe ha fua). 'Oku fekau'aki 'ae "mate" moe "teunga 'uli" -- 'aia 'oku ne "folo" kotoa ki loto 'ae ngaahi lanu 'e fitu moe mo'ui moe "teunga hina" -- 'aia koe lanu (kulo)kula -- 'o ne "puaki" kotoa ki tu'a 'ae 'u lanu 'e fitu.
'Oku ngali koe 'uhinga ia 'ae lea koe: "koto kula noa," "fakala'a 'i siatamaki" ("fakala'a 'i siamelie") moe "fakala'a 'i tahitamaki" ("fakala'a 'i tahimelie") moe "fohe'uli" (rudder) 'oe vaka moe kalia koe lahi ke fai 'ae faiva faifolau he po('uli), 'aia 'oku 'asi lelei ai 'ae maama (kula; hina) 'oe 'otu kaveinga he langi (fakataha moe tafe 'ae peau moe angi 'ae matangi).
'Oku mahino lelei 'eni hono ngaue'aki 'ae kafa kula / kafakula moe kafa 'uli / kafa'uli he tufunga lalava, kele kula / kelekula moe vali 'uli / vali'uli he tufunga ngaohikulo, kili kula / kilikula moe vaitohi 'uli / vaitohi'uli he tufunga tatau, koka kula / kokakula moe tongo 'uli / tongo'uli he nimamea'a koka'anga, fe'unu kula / fe'unukula moe fe'unu 'uli / fe'unu'uli he nimamea'a lalanga moe ha fua.
'Oku hoko leva 'ae (kulo)kula moe ('uli)'uli koe lanu fakafonua 'a Tonga kae hoko 'ae (kulo)kula moe (hine)hina koe lanu fakalotu 'ae Kalisitiane (moe lanu fakaako 'ae Kolisi Tonga) -- pea koe kula koe hina pe ia moe hina koe kula pe ia -- 'aia koe kula koe heliaki / taipe 'oe ta'ata'a / toto 'o Kalaisi moe hina koe heliaki / taipe kihe ma'a moe kinokinoifia hono ta'ata'a / toto).
ANFF leva e malanga kae tau,
'Ofa ma'u moe na'una'u fau,
Hufanga
Professor of Art, Culture & Critical Anthropology
MUT & VACIAR -
Malie masi'i Taupeaulo e ngaue pea 'oku 'ave ai pe hingoa hotau ki'i fonuamo Tonga foki. 'Ofa atu
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CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR BENJAMIN WORK...Excellent endeavors, and best of luck on your continued search for excellence in the arts.
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May I warmly congratulate our dear and beloved Ben for a job well-done and an honour well-earned. As a hard-working and truly visionary and imaginative artist, he rightly deserves both and more. Ben is of Tu'i Matoto heritage and always proud to be a Tu'i Vava'u in the art world.
Generally, Ben has been inspired by ancient Tongan knowledge ('ilo) and skills (poto) composed in Tongan culture (fonua / kalatua) and communicated through Tongan language (tala / lea). Amongst these is his specific use of ancient Tongan kupesi (complex, beautiful and elaborate geometric designs), as those carved on ancient Tongan weapons (me'atau), notably war clubs (povai).
He has definitely stepped up ancient Tongan kupesi to another level, where he uses new materials and novel techniques, in original, creative and innovative ways. By way of abstraction, Ben actively engages in the intersection or connection and separation of times / lines (ta / kohi) and spaces (va) by means of colours (lanu). Herein, they are symmetrically transformed from a condition of crisis (felekeu) to a state of stasis (maau) through sustained harmony (potupotutatau) to create beauty (malie / faka'ofo'ofa).
Ben is also inspired by red (kula) and black ('uli) -- which are the fundamental colours in Tongan arts -- specifically material (tufunga) and fine (nimamea'a) arts, On both symbolic and actual terms, red (kula) and black ('uli) correspond to time (ta) and space (va), on the abstract level, and form (fuo) and content (uho), on the concrete level,
Their use is most evident in material arts of tattooing (tufunga tatatau) and pottery-making (tufunga ngaohikulo) and fine arts of bark-cloth-making (nimamea'a koka'anga) and mat-weaving (nimamea'a lalanga) amidst many others.
Keep up the great deed. 'Ofa manatu & manatu 'ofa,