Benjamin Work New Zealand | Tonga, b. 1979
Kau To'a, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
106 1/4 x 94 1/2 in
240 x 173 cm
240 x 173 cm
Inspired by the 1845 sketch by Belgian artist Auguste Wahlen, of a Tongan warrior heading out to war, I’ve created these works emphasizing the importance of facial recognition and whether...
Inspired by the 1845 sketch by Belgian artist Auguste Wahlen, of a Tongan warrior heading out to war, I’ve created these works emphasizing the importance of facial recognition and whether they are a friend or foe, with something to hide. Their choice of colors aligned with the Tongan physical, psychological and human attributes of red and black colours, linking nature, mind and society and gendered division of labour.