HERE'S A PAINTING I WAS REMINDED OF BY A FRIEND AT AN OPENING ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
WE WERE DISCUSSING IMAGES OF COOK IN CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICE, THE PROLIFERATION OF THEM AND THE REOCCURRING THEMES. THIS PAINTING IS BASED ON TUPAIA'S IMAGE (THE ARTIST FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE ARTIST OF THE CHIEF MOURNER) DEPICTING (POSSIBLY) JOSEPH BANKS TRADING GOODS WITH MAORI, A FAMOUS IMAGE (FOR NEW ZEALAND) IN THE BRITISH LIBRARY.
IN MY VERSION, THE PAKEHA IS DEFINED AS COOK, WORKING ON THE CHAIN.
THOU ART NOTHING, 1999, OIL ON CANVAS
480mm x 360mm, JAMES WALLACE COLLECTION
