Benjamin Work
{{Short description|New Zealand artist of Tongan descent.}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Benjamin Work
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| nationality = New Zealand
| known_for = painting, murals
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1979}}
| style = motifs from ancient Tongan artefacts
| caption = Work in 2023
| image = Benjamin Work (cropped).jpg
| notable_works = Motutapu II (2021)
}}
Benjamin Work (born 1979, Auckland, New Zealand) is an artist from New Zealand with Tongan and Scottish heritage.{{Cite web |title=BENJAMIN WORK |url=https://archive.tautai.org/artist/benjamin-work/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=TAUTAI – GUIDING PACIFIC ARTS |language=en-US}} He is well known for his murals across New Zealand, as well as his paintings inspired by his genealogy back to Tonga.{{Cite web |title=Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery {{!}} Benjamin Work And Brendan Kitto: Motutapu |url=https://www.teuru.org.nz/whats-on/calendar/benjamin-work-and-brendan-kitto-motutapu/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Dr Reuben |date=2021-06-09 |title=Benjamin Work Talks About His Giant Mural, Motutapu II |url=https://www.canterburymuseum.com/explore/our-stories/benjamin-work-talks-about-his-giant-mural-motutapu-ii |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Canterbury Museum}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Benjamin Work |url=https://archive.tautai.org/artist/benjamin-work/ |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=Tautai Pacific Arts Trust}} 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.{{cite web |title=Artwork Production: Benjamin Work |url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_humanhistory-object-784494?k=paint&ordinal=2 |website=Auckland Museum |access-date=8 July 2023}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Charlie |date=2021-04-14 |title=Artist creates huge mural in Canterbury Museum inspired by Tongan art |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/124839486/artist-creates-huge-mural-in-canterbury-museum-inspired-by-tongan-art |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
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,{{Cite web |title=Artwork |url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_humanhistory-object-784494?k=benjamin%20work&dept=Pacific&ordinal=0 |access-date=2020-10-02 |website=Auckland Museum}} Canterbury Museum,{{Cite web |title=Artwork: Motutapu II, Bejamin Work |url=https://collection.canterburymuseum.com/objects/1114129/artwork-motutapu-ii-bejamin-work |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Canterbury Museum Collection Online |language=en}} and The Arts House Trust.{{Cite web |title=Benjamin WORK |url=https://collection.artshousetrust.co.nz/persons/2936/benjamin-work |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The Arts House Trust Collection Online |language=en}}
In 2024, Work was awarded the inaugural Fatu Feu’u Pacific Arts Prize from University of Auckland{{Cite web |title=Benjamin Work, the inaugural Fatu Feu’u Pacific Arts Prize recipient |url=https://artnow.nz/news/benjamin-work-the-inaugural-fatu-feuu-pacific-arts-prize-recipient |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Artnow |language=en}}
Selected residencies
- 2024: McCahon House Residency, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=Benjamin Work {{!}} McCahon House |url=https://mccahonhouse.org.nz/residency/benjamin-work |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=mccahonhouse.org.nz |language=en}}
- 2019: Artist in Residence, Para Site, Hong Kong{{Cite web |title=Artist-in-Residence: Benjamin Work |url=https://www.para-site.art/residencies/artist-in-residence-benjamin-work/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Para Site |language=en-US}}
Selected solo and collaborative exhibitions
- 2023: Tautahi, In The Face Of Adversity, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands{{Cite web |title=Benjamin Work, Tautahi – In the Face of Adversity {{!}} Contemporary Hum |url=https://contemporaryhum.com/calendar/benjamin-work-tautahi-in-the-face-of-adversity |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=contemporaryhum.com |language=en}}
- 2023: Bodies of Water, Made of Land (with Harrison Freeth), Te Tuhi, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=Bodies of Water, Made of Land |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/bodies-of-water-made-of-land |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Artnow |language=en}}
- 2023: Bodies of Water (with Harrison Freeth), Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand{{Cite web |date=2023-04-02 |title=Artist Talk: Harrison Freeth and Benjamin Work {{!}} Humanitix |url=https://events.humanitix.com/artist-talk-benjamin-work-and-harrison-freeth |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=events.humanitix.com |language=en}}
- 2021: MOTUTAPU (with Brendan Kitto), Te Uru, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=BENJAMIN WORK AND BRENDAN KITTO: MOTUTAPU |url=https://www.teuru.org.nz/whats-on/calendar/benjamin-work-and-brendan-kitto-motutapu/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Te Uru}}
- 2022: Toa Motu, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=To'a Motu |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/toa-motu |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Artnow |language=en}}
- 2018: Benjamin Work: Write it on the land, Seal it on the heart, Te Tuhi, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=TeTuhi |url=https://tetuhi.art/exhibition/benjamin-work-write-it-on-the-land-seal-it-on-the-heart/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=tetuhi.art}}
- 2017: Whenua Fonua 'Enua , Malcolm Smith Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |last=digital |first=mata |date=2018-11-05 |title=BENJAMIN WORK: WHENUA FONUA 'ENUA |url=https://uxbridge.org.nz/events/benjamin-work-whenua-fonua-enua/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Uxbridge}}
- 2017: Return to Havaiki (with Andy Leleisi’uao), Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands{{Cite web |date=2017-09-18 |title=Return to Havaiki {{!}} UFO Islands {{!}} Benjamin Work & Andy Leleisi'uao |url=https://archive.tautai.org/return-havaiki-ufo-islands-benjamin-work-andy-leleisiuao/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Tautai Pacific Arts Trust |language=en-US}}
- 2016: METfriday, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, United States of America{{Cite web |last=Latif |first=Justin |date=2016-09-01 |title=Benjamin to bring Tongan war clubs to Big Apple |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/83790306/benjamin-to-bring-tongan-war-clubs-to-big-apple |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
- 2016: For King and Country, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- 2015: Ma'ae Tu'i mo e Fonua, Māngere Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |date=10 May 2015 |title=For King And Country – Ma'ae Tu'i mo e Fonua. |url=https://archive.tautai.org/for-king-and-country-maae-tui-mo-e-fonua/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Tautai Pacific Arts Trust}}
- 2015: Toutoutā, Olivia Laita Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |last=Laita |first=Olivia |title=TOUTOUTĀ – A Solo Exhibition by Benjamin Work |url=https://blog.olivialaita.com/post/117034238819/olivia-laita-gallery-presents-toutout%C4%81-a-solo |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Olivialaita}}
- 2014: I See Red, I See Red, I See Red, Fresh Gallery, Otara, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |date=2014-03-13 |title=I SEE RED, I SEE RED |url=https://depotpress.co.nz/2014/03/13/i-see-red-i-see-red-benjamin-work-at-fresh-gallery/ |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=Depot Press}}
Selected group exhibitions
- 2023: Horizon, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=Horizon |url=https://artguide.artforum.com/artguide/bergman-gallery-auckland-22221/horizon-221095 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=artguide.artforum.com |language=en-US}}
- 2023: Tukufakaholo – Tongan Contemporary, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=Tukufakaholo – Tongan Contemporary |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/tukufakaholo-tongan-contemporary |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Artnow |language=en}}
- 2022: Te Atuitanga – Beneath our Cloak of Stars, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |last=Vano |first=Kendall |date=2022-07-13 |title=Bergman Gallery Exhibition: Te Atuitanga – Between our Cloak of Stars |url=https://tpplus.co.nz/arts-music/bergman-gallery-exhibition-te-atuitanga-between-our-cloak-of-stars/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=TP+ |language=en-NZ}}
- 2021: The Most Dedicated, Dowse Art Museum, Wellington, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=The Most Dedicated: An Aotearoa Graffiti Story |url=https://artnow.nz/exhibitions/the-most-dedicated-an-aotearoa-graffiti-story |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Artnow |language=en}}
- 2015: PGP, AMbush Gallery, Sydney{{Cite web |date=2016-12-13 |title=Post-Graffiti Pacific |url=https://www.artshousetrust.co.nz/current-exhibitions/post-graffiti-pacific |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The Arts House Trust |language=en-NZ}}
- 2013: If These Walls Could Talk, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand{{Cite web |date=2016-11-13 |title=Benjamin Work |url=https://pimpiknows.com/2016/11/14/benjamin-work/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=PIMPI KNOWS |language=en}}
- 2013: Serigraph show, Olivia Laita Gallery, Auckland
- 2011: Primary Flight, Art Basel, Miami, United States of America
Publications
- {{cite book | last=Work | first=Benjamin | last2=Kitto | first2=Brendan | last3=Turei | first3=Pita | last4=Johansson | first4=Paul | last5=Wolfgramm | first5=Stan | title=Motutapu | publisher=Rim Books | publication-place=Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand | date=2022 | isbn=978-1-9911652-0-6}}
- {{cite book | last=Work | first=Benjamin | title=Whenua Fonua 'Enua | date=2017 | isbn=978-0-473-41566-2}}
References
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Category:New Zealand people of Tongan descent
Category:New Zealand muralists