Artist creates huge mural in Canterbury Museum inspired by Tongan art ^Featured

Visitors to the museum this week can watch as artist Benjamin Work creates the 330-square-metre mural across the floor and up two walls.

Work said the design was inspired by the distinctive carved patterns on Tongan ‘Akau tau (war clubs) in the museum’s collection.

Work, who is Auckland-born and of Tongan and Scottish heritage, said he was inspired by Tongan designs. Before starting the new artwork he looked at Tongan artefacts in the museum’s collection, including ‘Akau Tau.

He said his artworks aimed to “bring new life” to Tongan imagery.

“You grow up with that visual language in every aspect of your life. In my work I bring new life to them.

“The Tongan diaspora are looking for connection because they didn’t grow up in Tonga, they don't feel Tongan, but they are Tongan. They are trying to understand where their parents come from and who they are.”

The patterns on the floor were his own designs as he did not want people to stand on sacred Tongan symbols.

“[Tongan symbols] are not just aesthetically beautiful – knowledge is attributed to those symbols. The idea of standing on them could be viewed as standing on something sacred.

“So the design is my own and will act as a bridge to the more sacred symbols on the wall.”

Canterbury Museum exhibition manager Neil Phillips said the opportunity for a new artwork came about because they needed to replace the carpet in the exhibition space.

That also meant the museum could uncover works painted on the interior walls in 2014 as part of the Rise street art festival. The works are usually covered by black curtains when the space is used for exhibitions.

Artworks by Wongi ‘Freak’ Wilson & Ikarus, Thom Buchanan, Eno, Askew One, Jacob Yikes, Drapl and BMD are now on public view again.

Work’s new mural will be completed on Sunday, but visitors can watch his progress over this week.