John McCallum: The Hokianga

The Hokianga has a long history. Much of it is recorded in memory and passed down by mouth to ear. Because of this and in some respects a relatively untouched way of life there, the connections to its past are at once accessible whilst at the same time seemingly shrouded in the mystery over lore and legend.

This exhibition is assembled from images made so far through differing seasons since 2008, and is intended to offer glimpses of a way of life that is largely lost to modern New Zealand. By examining, often at the boundaries, how the local people and visitors have caused changes in the fabric of nature, insights can be revealed as to what we basically need to live in a community with a very long history of human inhabitation, in a place where the forces of nature govern the individual way of life and not the other way around. In these characteristic changes can easily be seen the constraints of the philosophy of treading lightly on the land (and a desire for Kaitiakitanga) as well the economical use of available resources.

Saturday 27 May to Wednesday 14 June

Vernacular Lounge

Opening Saturday 27 May, 2 – 3:30pm