Bling Ring

Bling Ring Moodboard, 2021, digital collage. Courtesy of Vanessa Mei Crofskey, exhibition curator.

Bling Ring Moodboard, 2021, digital collage. Courtesy of Vanessa Mei Crofskey, exhibition curator.

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22 Oct – 11 Dec

Clementine Edwards, Jenny Takahashi Palmer, Louie Zalk-Neale, Ming Ranginui, Nââwié Tutugoro

Precious items can have an important role in ritual and performance, with connections to sacred and intimate body parts; be it a handmade vessel we drink water out of, a comb we brush our hair with, or an elegant ring passed down from generations. They can be made of rare materials, be well-crafted and artisanal, but more vitally tend to have emotional significance or spiritual importance, something that is passed on and carried through us, evoking the memory and presence of loved ones.

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Enjoy Contemporary Art Space’s upcoming exhibition Bling Ring asks five craft-based artists, working across contemporary art, sculpture, jewellery, garment-making, performance and embroidery to create artworks that are underscored by personal notions of preciousness.

Louie Zalk-Neale (Ngāi Te Rangi/Pākēha) uses native tī kōuka fibres to create thin, delicate ropes that are multipurpose: worn as decorative garments on the body and suspended in the air, exploring transformation as it occurs within spirituality, gender, the living world and Māori mythology  'queerness as the most natural thing'.

Nââwié Tutugoro replicates the form of traditional Kanaky combs into soft pillow-like sculptures, looking at ways in which the head and a person's name becomes both sacred and commonplace. Following on, artist and jewellery maker Jenny Takahashi Palmer presents a sequence of exquisite hair-related artefacts that reflect her own Japanese heritage, new collaborations and new experiments into woodcarving.

Ming Ranginui (Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) shows her signature style though an intricately adorned and wickedly funny art installation, remixing the language of artefacts found in pop culture references and a teenager’s bedroom.

Finally, Rotterdam/Naarm-based artist Clementine Edwards shows new and old work that examines her understanding of ‘material kinship’, and the relationships found mingled across objects through found and gifted items, glitter, and 'low value' craft materials.  

Read Arihia Latham's column "Hīkoi Toi: Precious projects are treasures shared in challenging times”

Hear Nââwié Tutugoro discuss Bling Ring with Theo MacDonald for Artbank on 95bFM

Read Ronia Ibrahim responding to Bling Ring for The Pantogaraph Punch, "All That Glitters is Gone"

Curated by Vanessa Mei Crofskey

Nââwié Tutugoro, Jenny Takahashi Palmer, Clementine Edwards, Ming Ranginui, Louie Zalk-Neale, curated by Vanessa Mei Crofskey, Bling Ring, 2021, install view. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Nââwié Tutugoro, Jenny Takahashi Palmer, Clementine Edwards, Ming Ranginui, Louie Zalk-Neale, curated by Vanessa Mei Crofskey, Bling Ring, 2021, install view. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Nââwié Tutugoro, Jenny Takahashi Palmer, Clementine Edwards, Ming Ranginui, Louie Zalk-Neale, curated by Vanessa Mei Crofskey, Bling Ring, 2021, install view. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Nââwié Tutugoro, Jenny Takahashi Palmer, Clementine Edwards, Ming Ranginui, Louie Zalk-Neale, curated by Vanessa Mei Crofskey, Bling Ring, 2021, install view. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Nââwié Tutugoro, now we are here, 2021, fleece and towel fabric, corflute. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Nââwié Tutugoro, now we are here, 2021, fleece and towel fabric, corflute. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Nââwié Tutugoro, Horizon Beds/lits horizon, 2021, mixed fabric pillowcases, pillows. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Nââwié Tutugoro, Horizon Beds/lits horizon, 2021, mixed fabric pillowcases, pillows. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, mānuka, ebony, totara, taraire, bamboo, pearl, ivory, urushi, linseed oil, tung oil. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo; Nââwié Tutugoro and Jenny Palmer, Naawie+Jenny hair ornament, 2021, bamboo, oiled with tung. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.  

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, mānuka, ebony, totara, taraire, bamboo, pearl, ivory, urushi, linseed oil, tung oil. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo;
Nââwié Tutugoro and Jenny Palmer, Naawie+Jenny hair ornament, 2021, bamboo, oiled with tung. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

 

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, mānuka, ebony, totara, taraire, bamboo, pearl, ivory, urushi, linseed oil, tung oil. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, mānuka, ebony, totara, taraire, bamboo, pearl, ivory, urushi, linseed oil, tung oil. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, pearl. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, pearl. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, mānuka, ebony, totara, taraire, bamboo, pearl, ivory, urushi, linseed oil, tung oil. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Jenny Palmer, Jenny's kanzashi collection, 2020-21, sterling silver, mānuka, ebony, totara, taraire, bamboo, pearl, ivory, urushi, linseed oil, tung oil. All stands: Japanese cedarwood and bamboo. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Small Paintings series, 2021, mixed media. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Small Paintings series, 2021, mixed media. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Material Kinship / The World is Going to Shitzu, 2019¬21, digital photo courtesy Lauren Burrow, PVC, mixed media/material kinships. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Material Kinship / The World is Going to Shitzu, 2019¬21, digital photo courtesy Lauren Burrow, PVC, mixed media/material kinships. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Purity Fragile Fiction, 2021, Skuntank package, After Eight wrapper, Tool Station catalogue, Pierrot toothpaste box, Voltaren foil, loratadine box, Fluoxetine box, Tandex Flexi interdental brush box, Cherry Ripe wrapper, Mon Cherie wrapper, polyester fabric, price tag, receipts, found tape heart, steel wire, cotton, staples, PVC, glitter, glue, stickytape, detail. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Purity Fragile Fiction, 2021, Skuntank package, After Eight wrapper, Tool Station catalogue, Pierrot toothpaste box, Voltaren foil, loratadine box, Fluoxetine box, Tandex Flexi interdental brush box, Cherry Ripe wrapper, Mon Cherie wrapper, polyester fabric, price tag, receipts, found tape heart, steel wire, cotton, staples, PVC, glitter, glue, stickytape, detail. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Purity Fragile Fiction, 2021, Skuntank package, After Eight wrapper, Tool Station catalogue, Pierrot toothpaste box, Voltaren foil, loratadine box, Fluoxetine box, Tandex Flexi interdental brush box, Cherry Ripe wrapper, Mon Cherie wrapper, polyester fabric, price tag, receipts, found tape heart, steel wire, cotton, staples, PVC, glitter, glue, stickytape, detail. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Clementine Edwards, Purity Fragile Fiction, 2021, Skuntank package, After Eight wrapper, Tool Station catalogue, Pierrot toothpaste box, Voltaren foil, loratadine box, Fluoxetine box, Tandex Flexi interdental brush box, Cherry Ripe wrapper, Mon Cherie wrapper, polyester fabric, price tag, receipts, found tape heart, steel wire, cotton, staples, PVC, glitter, glue, stickytape, detail. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Ming Ranginui, holiday home, 2021, suitcase, velvet, satin, rotating mechanism, found figurine. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Ming Ranginui, holiday home, 2021, suitcase, velvet, satin, rotating mechanism, found figurine. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Ming Ranginui, holiday home, 2021, suitcase, velvet, satin, rotating mechanism, found figurine, detail. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Ming Ranginui, holiday home, 2021, suitcase, velvet, satin, rotating mechanism, found figurine, detail. Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap enamel paint. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap enamel paint. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap, video (4min 59sec), enamel paint. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall, camera work by Angel Connor Fitzgerald). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap, video (4min 59sec), enamel paint. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall, camera work by Angel Connor Fitzgerald). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap, enamel paint, detail. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap, enamel paint, detail. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap enamel paint. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho, 2021, tī kōuka leaves and fibre, driftwood, karo sap enamel paint. (Assisted and advised by Rangimārie Keall). Image courtesy of Cheska Brown.

This group exhibition kicks off Enjoy’s programme under an all-new team of staff, curated by Vanessa Mei Crofskey, inviting contemporary craft practices to take centre stage within a non-profit art gallery, examining what is sacred and frivolous up close. We would like to thank The Chartwell Trust for the financial support that has made this exhibition possible, and Creative New Zealand for their continuing support.