New Head of Elam School of Fine Arts
Jonathan Mane-Wheoki has been appointed Professor of Fine Arts and Head of Elam School of Fine Arts at The University of Auckland.
Mr Mane-Wheoki (Ngapuhi/Te Aupouri/Ngati Kuri) is an art historian, architectural historian and a cultural historian. For the past five years has worked as Director of Art and Collection Services at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
His broad range of professional experiences and research outputs encompasses many disciplines, from architectural history to music.
Moving easily across the worlds of Maori and Pakeha, Jonathan is widely regarded as a pioneer for the development of contemporary Maori and Pacific art and art history.
Although his academic background is in early modern European art and architecture, he is also involved in an analytical survey of contemporary Maori art; projects on major historical New Zealand artists; and he is embarking upon a global study of indigenous art. A collaborative examination of the history of Maori art from ancient times to the present day is in the pipeline.
Over the past three decades Jonathan has engaged with some of New Zealand’s most illustrious artists including Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere, Bill Sutton, Doris Lusk, Don Peebles, Russell Clark and Don Binney, as well as many of the leading Maori artists of the Gordon Tovey era.
In addition to his profile as an art historian, Jonathan has a strong history of service with appointments to such cultural and research agencies as Creative New Zealand, the Marsden Fund, the Royal Society of New Zealand, the Council for the Humanities, and the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. He also has broad experience in the museum and heritage sectors and extensive national and international networks of academic art historians, art curators and museum professionals, art dealers and collectors, and indigenous leaders and communities.
“Since my Auckland childhood I have known the Elam brand to be very powerful. I am familiar with the practice, achievements and reputations of most of the current teaching staff and the admirable quality of their students and graduates and of the impact they make on the contemporary art scene in New Zealand and internationally.
"I am honoured to be joining this great School in a Faculty that embraces many of my interests and passions in the creative arts and industries, and a University with a fine reputation for excellence in research and teaching. I will be working hard to support and enhance this reputation,” says Jonathan.
“The breadth and depth of Jonathan’s knowledge, research and professional experience epitomises the interdisciplinary, collaborative and forward-looking ethos of the Faculty,” says Professor Sharman Pretty, Dean of NICAI. “As Professor of Fine Arts and Head of Elam Jonathan will bring not only his acumen as a scholar but also his skills as a proven manager whose leadership style is often praised as innovative and inspirational.”
Jonathan Mane-Wheoki will take up his appointment as Professor of Fine Arts at Elam School of Fine Arts in April 2009.
The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.
University of Auckland
12/02/09
