Erewhon – Left for Dead in the Field of Dreams

Overview

Erewhon is Nowhere spelt backwards. The portraits involved in this exhibition are upside down as well. Mind blown.

Designed for the Biennale Exhibition, Fiona Pardington has created seven photographic portraiture of Maori and mixed race Ngai Tahu women. The reason these women's faces appear upside down is because it carries the suggestion that they are being born into the the world, not standing on the ground.

The dark colours in each portrait emphasises the latent force in each pukana and each potete. She favours analogue photographic darkroom technique and uses it to great effect. Looking at the portraits, one cannot help but feel awe for the potent mythological symbols etched on every single lovely face. Seaweed from the South Island is used to surround each woman to represent Tangaroa, God of the Sea. It can also be perceived as an earthly metaphor for Aka, or the spiritual, silver cords that link each person to their higher spiritual body or being.

Fiona Pardington's work is a powerful invocation to the female ancestors.