Jonathan Mane-Wheoki papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-Archives-FA 2016/01

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of papers and published works relating to Jonathan Mane-Wheoki's teaching and curatorial activities, and is divided into two main series: ‘Teaching material and subject files’ and ‘Festivals and events’.

Teaching notes feature largely in the first series; the thematic files being created and added to throughout his career. Personal subject files are also included and cover a range of interests and activities such as New Zealand and Oceania art and film, and relationship building between Chinese art institutions and the University of Auckland.

‘Festivals and events’ focus on his curatorial work on major biennials and triennials in Australia and New Zealand.

Dates

1970s - 2010s

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī) was born in Northland in 1943 and died in Auckland on the 10th October, 2014; a renowned academic, curator, and pioneer of the study of contemporary Māori and Pacific art history. Attending night classes at the Auckland Art Gallery in the 1950s he studied further at the University of Canterbury, then to the Courtauld Institute of Art in London where he gained his Master of Arts in 1974. Returning to Christchurch he began teaching at the University of Canterbury in 1975, eventually becoming Dean of Music and Fine Arts, and in 1992 the curator of Māori Art at the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. In 2004 he moved from Christchurch being appointed director of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and in 2009 took the headship of the Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland. In 2012 he stood down from this role becoming head of arts and visual culture at Te Papa. As well as teaching Jonathan was involved with a number of major art festivals: organising, curating, and speaking. These curatorial activities notably include the Christchurch art festival SCAPE, and the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.