Why should a New Zealand artist get a survey here?
Having curated his very first show, and now his most recent, Maud Page discusses the enigma of Michael Parekowhai and his attraction to Australian audiences.
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Visual Arts
Detail of Parekowhai’s of Captain Cook, the first work and lasting impression visitors face entering in his exhibition; courtesy the artist and GOMA
Whether it is a seal balancing a grand piano on its nose, a giant inflatable rabbit, a steroid-sized Captain Cook squeezed into a Brutalist-styled cottage, or an upended elephant toppled by a rat, Michael Parekowhai captures the imagination of audiences and leaves us questioning our own take on the world.
Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW.
Instagram: fairleygina
