In London, 1818, two young Maori chiefs, Tui and Titiri, produced some of the earliest Maori naturalistic drawings, in the form of ink sketches of war canoes.

In this new exhibition by John Walsh the painting The Voyagers transports figures from Tui and Titiri’s drawings on the back of a wise Marakihau (merman) across a dark, ethereal landscape in the continuation of their voyage of discovery and understanding.

In Te Raroa, the ancestor Porourangi rests in his summer retreat at Uawa Tolaga Bay. It is evening, Hikurangi on the horizon catches the last rays and his son settles on his knee as a manaia (mythological creature) watches on. This work was first exhibited in 2003 at John Leech Gallery as part of the Te Pou o Te Kani exhibition and has been re-worked during 2013 for this exhibition.

From here the exhibition departs specific historical references and ventures into the wonderland of beliefs and mythology that mould the people that create history.

Walsh’s practise has always moved freely across such boundaries. Patupaiarehe are fairy people who live in the forest and are known to create mischief with humans. In Whenua Patupiairehe (Fairyland) and Midnight Marakihau Patupaiarehe and Marakihau are seen in their own environments happily going about their own business and not making mischief with humans – for a change. In The Devil, out recruiting a more international symbolism is used as the Devil is caught in the flash light of a camera while up to no good.

Explanations are not always required when viewing Walsh’s work, independently a viewer, if prone, will be transported into these realms of mystery and beauty or darkness and mischief.

(Adapted from an artist statement, May 2013)