For this exhibition, Jane Venis has hand-built a variety of instruments that incorporate the culturally potent material of pāua shell.

Both the ukelele and pāua have been historically devalued within the Pacific – sold as cheap and kitschy tourist souvenirs, which has exploited their status as taonga for their respective cultures. Here, Jane combines the two to produce contemporary Kiwiana, and along with other instruments, forms an ensemble that evaluates where the line might lie between trinket and treasure.

Catalogue

Images: Photographed by Hannah Joynt