- Source: Benjamin Work
Benjamin Work (born 1979, Auckland, New Zealand) is an artist from New Zealand with Tongan and Scottish heritage. He is well known for his murals across New Zealand, as well as his paintings inspired by his genealogy back to Tonga.
Drawing on his Tongan heritage, Work began to explore new directions in his art over the last decade. Inspired by the iconography found on Tongan treasures such as ngatu (bark cloth), fala (Tongan mats), and 'akau tau (war clubs), his refined, graphic paintings aimed to find new spaces and ways for audiences to engage with Tonga's visual culture. Work's art found a home both inside institutions and on the streets.
Work's early life was marked by a diverse cultural upbringing, a passion for art, and a deep exploration of his Tongan heritage. He has developed a deep interest in and conducted extensive research on aspects of Tongan history and culture. This exploration has allowed him to incorporate elements of Tongan traditions and symbols into his artwork, creating a unique fusion of contemporary and cultural influences. Work is part of the urban art movement and has exhibited in Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, United States, Cook Islands, and Tonga.
In 2015, Work co-curated a display at the Auckland Museum with portraits from Tonga representing the royal lines of Tu’i Tonga, Tu’i Ha’atakalaua and Tu’i Kanokupolu.
In 2021, Work created a big 330-square-metre mural Motutapu II across the floor and up two walls of Canterbury Museum inspired by the distinctive carved patterns on Tongan ‘akau tau (war clubs) in the museum’s collection.
In 2023, Work curated Tukufakaholo, Tongan Contemporary, at Bergman Gallery, featuring 8 Tongan artists from Auckland.
Work's work are held public and private collections throughout New Zealand, such as in Auckland Museum, Canterbury Museum, and The Arts House Trust.
In 2024, Work was awarded the inaugural Fatu Feu’u Pacific Arts Prize from University of Auckland
Selected residencies
2024: McCahon House Residency, Auckland, New Zealand
2019: Artist in Residence, Para Site, Hong Kong
Selected solo and collaborative exhibitions
2023: Tautahi, In The Face Of Adversity, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
2023: Bodies of Water, Made of Land (with Harrison Freeth), Te Tuhi, Auckland, New Zealand
2023: Bodies of Water (with Harrison Freeth), Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand
2021: MOTUTAPU (with Brendan Kitto), Te Uru, Auckland, New Zealand
2022: Toa Motu, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2018: Benjamin Work: Write it on the land, Seal it on the heart, Te Tuhi, Auckland, New Zealand
2017: Whenua Fonua 'Enua , Malcolm Smith Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2017: Return to Havaiki (with Andy Leleisi’uao), Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
2016: METfriday, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, United States of America
2016: For King and Country, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
2015: Ma'ae Tu'i mo e Fonua, Māngere Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
2015: Toutoutā, Olivia Laita Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2014: I See Red, I See Red, I See Red, Fresh Gallery, Otara, Auckland, New Zealand
Selected group exhibitions
2023: Horizon, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2023: Tukufakaholo – Tongan Contemporary, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2022: Te Atuitanga – Beneath our Cloak of Stars, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2021: The Most Dedicated, Dowse Art Museum, Wellington, New Zealand
2015: PGP, AMbush Gallery, Sydney
2013: If These Walls Could Talk, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
2013: Serigraph show, Olivia Laita Gallery, Auckland
2011: Primary Flight, Art Basel, Miami, United States of America
Publications
Work, Benjamin; Kitto, Brendan; Turei, Pita; Johansson, Paul; Wolfgramm, Stan (2022). Motutapu. Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand: Rim Books. ISBN 978-1-9911652-0-6.
Work, Benjamin (2017). Whenua Fonua 'Enua. ISBN 978-0-473-41566-2.
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
6.803
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