Alexis Neal, 17Feb-19March, Wellington

Alexis Neal's exhibition New Works will be on at Solander Gallery, Wellington
from 17 February to 19 March.
This new body of print and woven inspired by Pura Te Manihera McGregor (1855 - 1920), 
her life, her people and her place of birth in Whanganui.

This series builds on a suite initiated through an artist residency at Tylee Cottage in Whanganui.
Alexis pays homage to a remarkable Maori woman, Pura Te Manihera McGregor (1855 – 1920).
Pura was a wahine toa (warrior woman), community leader & first Maori woman to receive an OBE. 
Alexis bridges both past and present in this exhibition merging the boundaries 
between taonga and contemporary art with a series of lithographic and woven works.

Alexis Neal, Where the River Meets the Sea, 2015
Lithograph on tea-stained paper, 30x40cm, edition of 12

The suite of Carte de Visite (calling cards) lithographs were created to set the scene 
of the period Pura lived in and try to capture the essence of the woman. 
These 14 paired small lithographic prints look closely at early 1900s portrait photography 
and are boxed framed and hedged displayed as free standing objects.

The Whariki (woven works) are a new extension of this work that represent Pura’s contemporaries, the Raranga Whakairo (plaited pattern weaves) are exploring notions of war, 
Waharua and interpretations of Mumu, strongly significant to Whanganui. 

Alexis Neal, Ake Tonu Atu - For Ever and Ever
Lithograph on tea-stained paper, 30x40cm, edition of 12

For more information, see Solander's we

Comments