Friend (b.1981) is of Pakeha and Ngati Maniapoto heritage. Raised in Auckland and studying Te Reo Maori at the Auckland College of Education in 2001, he pursued a degree in Maori Visual Art at Toimairangi in Hawkes Bay, graduating in 2005, and completed a Masters in Maori Visual Art from Te Putahi a Toi Massey University, Palmerston
North in 2010. Receiving the Doreen Blumdhart/ Creative New Zealand internship at The Dowse Art Museum in 2009, where he curated the Plastic Maori exhibition, he now currently works as the Curator of Maori and Pacific Art at City Gallery Wellington.
Artist Statement:
The works I've sent to Wine Country Gallery's 2012 summer pop up show at Birdwood Gallery were made in response to the 2011 Māori Market which was held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua. The Market, which was timed to conincide with the Rugby World Cup, was marketed as a showcase of the 'best' of contemporary Māori art. However the organisers of this event specifically asked for works which were not political or statement driven, but instead presented a non-confrontational image of contemporary 'ethnic-ness'. These works therefore question this practice, asking 'what is the purpo se of such art?', 'who is it marketed at?' and 'what are the implications of presenting work which has been censored and/or devoid of contemporary messaging?'.
