Aro Toi / Art Collection in Focus: Ana Iti

This is the first of two presentations at Adam Art Gallery featuring new acquisitions from 2022 for Ngā Puhipuhi o Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection. Ana Iti’s video work, 'A dusty handrail on the track', 2021, is projected in the Kirk Gallery. This short video shows the hands of the artist as she turns pages printed with fragments of text, some words of which are marked in bright yellow highlighter. The phrases Iti has selected are from sources she turned to whilst artist in resident at the McCahon House in Auckland in 2020. In particular, the writings of three wāhine Māori authors: Amokura (1978) by June Mitchell (Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa), a book on Meretini Te Akau; Keri Hulme’s Te Kaihau: The Windeater (1986); and JC Sturm’s House of the Talking Cat (1983).

Ana Iti​ (Te Rarawa) is currently based in Hawke’s Bay. She works with sculpture, video and text. Her recent work explores the practice of history making through shared and personal narratives. Iti completed a MFA at Toi Rauwharangi Massey University Wellington. Since we last showed her work in The​ earth looks upon us / Ko Papatūānuku te matua o te tangata, she has had a busy schedule of exhibitions in Auckland, Dunedin, New Plymouth and Wellington.

Image: Still from Ana Iti 'A dusty handrail on the track', 2021, single channel digital video, 10 mins 56 seconds, Ngā Puhipuhi o Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection, purchased as part of the University’s 125-year anniversary celebrations 2022.