Bergman Gallery Inagural Exhibition
Opening Speakers:
Hon. Teina Bishop, Minister of Tourism
Massey Mateariki, Bank South Pacific
In Blessed Again by the Gods, Mahiriki Tangaroa presents a striking meditation on cycles of change, faith, and the shifting intersections of past and present. Set within lush island landscapes teeming with local flora, her compositions are inhabited by dimensional representations of Cook Islands deities—ancestral gods who observe, guide, and bear witness to human existence. This exhibition is structured around the framework of the four seasons, with each large-scale canvas embodying Summer, Winter, Autumn, and Spring. A smaller fifth canvas serves as a thematic cornerstone, acting as a renewal point—an axis around which transformation occurs.
At the heart of this series is Tangaroa’s contemplation of gifts—those offered by nature, by memory, and by faith. These are both literal and metaphorical, encompassing the spiritual and environmental riches of the Cook Islands as well as the intangible legacies of belief, history, and forgiveness. Titles such as Blessed Again and Forgiven Again suggest an uneasy balance between the miraculous and the conditional, prompting reflection on the sincerity of faith and the complexities of absolution in contemporary society. The notion of gifting is similarly scrutinized—Memories Gifted and Paradise Giftedinvite the viewer to consider the dual nature of these concepts, as both blessings and burdens, realities and idealizations.
The presence of the traditional gods within these compositions is significant. Unlike the distant, omnipotent deities of Western theology, Polynesian gods were created in the image of man, reflecting human virtues, flaws, and desires. In Tangaroa’s work, they gather in a resplendent, paradisiacal landscape—watching over a world in flux, embodying both hope and concern for the future. Their presence suggests an enduring connection between the sacred and the everyday, urging the viewer to reconsider their own relationship with nature, heritage, and the unseen forces that shape existence.
Ultimately, Blessed Again by the Gods is a call to awareness. It asks the audience to reflect on the cyclical nature of life, to recognize the impermanence of both prosperity and hardship, and to remain mindful of the gifts—both tangible and ephemeral—that define our personal and collective experiences. Through her masterful synthesis of mythology, symbolism, and contemporary reflection, Tangaroa invites us into a space where the divine and the earthly intertwine, where the past informs the present, and where every season—every moment—holds the potential for renewal.
