Ayesha Green, Folk Nationalism: City Gallery, Wellington

City Gallery, Wellington is presenting an expanded version of Ayesha Green's exhibition Folk Nationalism — open now until 15 October 2023.

Folk Nationalism was first presented at Tauranga Art Gallery Toi Tauranga in 2022 and commissioned by the Rydal Art Prize. The exhibition has been expanded to include older work held in public and private collections to track how the ideas have been established, play out, and continue to inform her practice.

Folk Nationalism interrogates the ways that power is upheld by images. Working across painting, drawing and sculpture, Ayesha (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Kāi Tahu) examines histories of Māori and Pākehā representation, often questioning the particular ‘truths’ or myths they perpetuate. Her practice co-opts culturally loaded images from the history of Aotearoa—by the likes of Benjamin West, Isaac Coates, Marcus King and Gordon Walters—and breaks them down to their pictorial elements, drawing attention to the systems of power that bestow them with value. Through subtle acts of mirroring and repositioning, she upends the supposed stability of images and their claims to a collective identity.

Glimmers from Ayesha’s own story are interspersed throughout the exhibition, taking form through self-portraiture and personal histories. They become a grounding touchstone, positioning herself within these narratives as a contemporary Māori woman and as a descendant of these same cross-cultural relationships.

Toured by Tauranga Art Gallery in partnership with the Seeds Trust.

There is a panel conversation at City Gallery today, on Sunday 2 July at 2pm. Ayesha is not speaking at this talk, but will give an artist talk sometime during the exhibition.