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New Zealand Maoris yesterday blessed with songs, dances and prayers a major exhibition of paintings of their ancestors, which is opening in Berlin this week. Czech-born artist Gottfried Lindauer’s Maori portraits have never been shown outside New Zealand. |
Underlining the significance of the exhibition, which is due to open tomorrow at the Alte Nationalgalerie, a group of Maoris accompanied the paintings to Berlin.
The exhibition comprises some 50 life-sized portraits of prominent Maoris from Lindauer’s years in New Zealand, including tribal chiefs and warriors.
Born in 1839 in the Czech town of Pilsen, Lindauer sailed to New Zealand in 1874. He died in the country in 1926.
Exhibition organisers said the paintings have never left New Zealand because of the importance that Maoris attach to the memory of their ancestors.
They see their ancestors as part of the living, and want to preserve the bonds between generations.
“We do not own Lindauer’s works, we protect them,” said Rhana Devenport, director of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.
The Alte Nationalgalerie was selected for the exhibition because of its focus on 19th century art.
Lindauer is one of only a few late 19th century painters to have devoted himself almost exclusively to depicting indigenous people.
The exhibition runs until April 12 before it moves to Pilsen.
