Tohora Whales: Artists respond to whale stories
20 November – 20 February

Sally Burton, Phillipa Durkin, Brian Flintoff, Steve Fullmer, Alfred Memelink,  Fumio Noguchi, Robin Slow, Deborah Walsh

Tohora Whales: Artists respond to whale stories features the work of eight New Zealand artists who are inspired by whale tales – from Maori legend to Moby Dick and more recently, coverage of the anti-whaling protests in the Southern seas.  A number of these artists have also referenced whale histories and facts from the best-selling non-fiction book Leviathan Or, The Whale by British author Philip Hoare.  Pleased to hear that his work had inspired artists, Hoare has written an introduction especially for this exhibition. 

While these art works are largely celebratory and demonstrate our long standing fascination with ‘the black fish’, there are points of friction.  Each artist presents a different perspective about whale issues which creates a stimulating, emotional and sometimes shocking conversation throughout the exhibition.