Page Galleries now representing Turumeke Harrington

Off the back of her inclusion in its group exhibition Hand-Held in late 2021, Page Galleries, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, has announced the addition of KāI Tahu artist Turumeke Harrington to its stable.

A Bachelor Fine Arts with First Class Honours graduate of Ilam School of Fine Arts, Harrington (b. 1992 Otāutahi Christhcurch) is based in Pōneke Wellington. In the last year alone, she has presented solo exhibitions at Objectspace, Auckland; Corban Estate Art Centre, Auckland, and Blue Oyster Art Project Space, Dunedin.

“We have been avid fans and followers of Turumeke’s practice for some time, particularly following her move to Wellington and local exhibitions including her solo show Mōhou tēnei this is for you at local artist-run gallery play_station,” commented Page Galleries.

“Whatever she’s doing – whether it’s an exhibition or a new product for her online store – her work makes you sit up and whakapaepae (pay attention).”

With her background in industrial design and fine arts, Harrington has become recognised for her large sculptural installations straddling art and design. The young artist’s practice is playfully provocative, often interrogating complex issues and ideas such as whakapapa (the Māori framework for genealogy) through wry observations, a sympathetic approach to materials, and a bold colour palette.

“While working together on Hand-Held, we were struck by the way Turumeke approached the project and her navigation of the space, which was so considered and sensitive at every stage, yet with a wicked humour and a lightness of touch that is seldom encountered,” said Lily Hacking of Page Galleries.

“Her work lets the outside world in, and vice versa; the heightened awareness that exists in the space of the gallery bleeding into our experience of the outside world and the utilitarian objects that occupy it.”

Pending confirmation that the fair will go ahead this year, Page Galleries is looking forward to presenting Harrington’s work at the 2022 Aotearoa Art Fair.

This article was originally published 1 February 2022.

Image: Portrait of Turumeke Harrington by Kate Glasson.

Featured thumbnail image: Turumeke Harrington, NETWORKING STAR (144 KURATEA), 2021. Acrylic and nylon, 80 x 70cm. Photo: Cheska Brown. Courtesy: the artist and Page Galleries, Wellington.