Front Gallery, 16th December 2009–6th February 2010

Pure Forms and Cultural Narratives encompasses five artists whose work embodies European abstraction and modernism, yet is equally engaged with the aesthetics of kowhaiwhai patterns or koru forms as signifiers of political, social or cultural meaning. Sarah Farrar has drawn attention to the way in which such a response is contemporary, yet was utilised in the 19th century by Maori who layered kowhaiwhai designs with non-Christian imagery.

The exhibition includes work by Darryn George,(Nga Puhi) who recently exhibited the impressive painting installation, Pulse at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.

Peata Larkin (Tuhourangi and Tuwharetoa) was the recipient of both a RMIT University Scholarship for Excellence and Achievement and the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award in 2006. Her painting moves confidently between abstraction and traditional kowhaiwhai pattern, challenging the viewer to consider the relationship between traditional ways of making art as well as contemporary Western technologies and culture.

Kim Lowe's formalist prints bring together her mixed Chinese-Pakeha ancestry, drawing attention to the premise of Aotearoa New Zealand as a destination of arrivals and departures for numerous cultures and the universality of kowhaiwhai forms.

Jon Tootill's (Ngai Tahu) has exhibited regularly throughout New Zealand since 1978, in works that have frequently addressed the issues of marginalised communities. Most recently, he has completed a series of paintings about moko, raising questions about its significance in New Zealand's current cultural environment.

John Wishart completed post-graduate study at the Elam School of Fine Arts. Wishart has worked alongside Selwyn Muru and Brett Graham and his recent work draws upon the 'rhythms of... [his] immediate environment, Murihiku, where... [he] lives and works.