Busy time ahead for leading artist

Our leading female contemporary artist Mahiriki Tangaroa has just returned from Auckland, New Zealand. She is pleased that she has been able to secure a deal with a Dunedin dealer art gallery as an outlet for her work.
Particularly pleasing is that Dunedin’s “Gallery De Novo” will purchase her work outright thus guaranteeing her an immediate income.
Tangaroa’s work is in demand and the gallery has lists of clients ready to buy it. Usually, a dealer gallery would exhibit the work as being for sale and on selling the work extract a commission. Under this arrangement the artist does not know if and/or when the work will attract a buyer.
The Gallery De Novo arrangement provides Tangaroa with much needed certainty. She is not sure what the gallery’s mark up on her work will be.
LOCAL
Tangaroa’s next local exhibition will be a solo exhibition to be held at the Beachcomber on 27 April. That show will feature three large pieces which she is working on at her home right now. Her first professional catalogue will also make its appearance then.
At present she is relocating from her “Puaikura Gallery” at the Rarotongan Beach resort & Spa and heading back to the Beachcomber. where she will have more work space.
Soon her attention will be focused on the upcoming exhibition of Cook Islands art proposed to be held at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, France from 5-7 July. There is firstly exhibition space to confirm. Once that is known it can be determined how many art works can be shown and by whom. Costs dictate the pieces should be small, preferably on canvas that can be rolled up and carried aboard aircraft.
She is happy at the high level of interest being shown by Minister for Culture Wilkie Rasmussen, himself an accomplished artist.
BOOST
Tangaroa is certain the Paris show will give Cook Islands art a much deserved boost internationally. For local art to go off shore is a healthy development which must be sustained, said Tangaroa.
However, as local work attracts greater international exposure, the question arises as to what value should be fairly placed on quality local art works. This is given the value that may have already been placed on quality art works from other nations within the region, especially on the international scene.
This concerns Tangaroa greatly and she believes local senior artists should debate this issue further.

Headlines : Times 192 19 Mar 2007
- Government business units fail to meet targets
- Marurai names research boss
- Time to focus budget on real issues
- Bridge on the ball
- Letters: Waiting for Makea family to embrace truth
- Tuesday will be trial for Oceania
- Dengue mosquitoes facing new Tom Wichman threat
- Six super ministries possible
- Glitz and Glamour coming to Aitutaki

Headlines : Times 191 12 Mar 2007
- AGM suspended, rule change sought
- Court case ‘lost’ for nearly two years
- Busy time ahead for leading artist
- LA LAUNCH Gets Boost
- Rotoract success up at the Staircase
- Ngakau Aroa: raising Games funds
- Rwandan priorities similar to ours: Aunty Mau
- New ring coming, Oceania next month