Eros & Agape - Fiona Pardington & Charles F Goldie

Eros & Agape is Fiona Pardington's first show of new work shot recently in Paris at the Musée de l'Homme (Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle). 

Pardington's chosen subjects are two sets of plaster head-and-shoulder busts that she has photographed at an analytical (perpendicular) angle.  One set of heads constitute a collection of busts which topographically illustrate the pseudo-science of phrenology - a metaphysically based system by which protrusions, concavities and other geographic features of the human skull are claimed to be predictive of human character and, ultimately, human behavior.  The second set of heads are life (and death) casts of notorious men and women representing actual impressions taken from the living and dead flesh of French assassins.

Eros & Agape also includes two works by arguably New Zealand's best known artist, Charles F. Goldie. The first of the works is a 1937 silver gelatin print by Goldie of Hori Pokai, which was gifted to an Auckland patron in 1938 and later sold by John Leech gallery. This photograph was the basis for Goldie's superb 1937 painting A Midsummer's day, Maoriland. 

The second artwork is an exquisite 1911 oil on mahogany painting presented in original Kauri frame titled Rakapa, an Arawa Chiefteness.  Originally of Otaki, Rakapa married into Arawa and her waiata are favorite songs among the old Rotorua people as well as those of the Ngati-Toa and Ngati-Raukawa villages.  

Goldie painted Rakapa three times and we are honoured to bring this painting to the market for the first time since 1911, following its acquisition by the vendor's grandmother directly from Goldie.

Eros & Agape is the second exhibition of Pardington's works at Suite gallery.  Born in Auckland in 1961, she is of Scottish (Clan Cameron of Erracht) and Maori (Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe) descent.  Pardington holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Auckland School of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts with first class honours in photography.  She has exhibited extensively both locally and internationally and will represent New Zealand at the upcoming Biennale of Sydney opening on 12 May.  

Eros & Agape is supported by Black Estate and is accompanied by a catalogue featuring an excellent essay by Roger Boyce.