Mark Adams (New Zealand photographer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Adams is one of New Zealand
's most distinguished photographers.
He was born in Christchurch
, New Zealand, and attended the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts from 1967–1970, majoring in graphic design to get access to photography.
After art school Adams became interested in painting through a long-term friendship with the artist Tony Fomison
and later Theo Schoon.
Best known for his work on documenting Samoan tatau
(tatooing), Maori-Pakeha interactions around Rotorua
, and historic sites around New Zealand, Adam's work has been extensively exhibited within New Zealand as well as Europe, Australia and South Africa. His work has also featured in Brazil's São Paulo biennale.
In 1997 Adams was awarded the Southland Art Foundation Artist in Residence award.
His work is represented in most of New Zealand's major art institutions, including the Auckland Art Gallery
, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
and Christchurch Art Gallery.
In 2009, his photographs featured in a new book Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture published by Te Papa Press, the publication arm of New Zealand's national museum. The book tells the story of Samoan master tattooist, the late Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II
.
Adams lived for many years in Auckland
, New Zealand where he has also taught photography.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's most distinguished photographers.
He was born in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand, and attended the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts from 1967–1970, majoring in graphic design to get access to photography.
I learned bugger all at art school. Tom Palaskas, a fellow student, taught me how to develop film and print. I taught myself how to use cameras. Then I discovered the art schools 4 x 5-inch Linhof plate camera and taught myself how to use that. That changed everything. That was the future.
After art school Adams became interested in painting through a long-term friendship with the artist Tony Fomison
Tony Fomison
Tony Fomison was a notable artist in New Zealand. He was an important post-war visual artist in the country and influenced New Zealand art by incorporating elements of narrative and myth into contemporary art....
and later Theo Schoon.
Best known for his work on documenting Samoan tatau
Pe'a
The Pe'a is the popular name of the traditional male tattoo of Samoa, which was originally called the malofie, a term used in the Samoan language chiefly vocabulary and 'respect' register .-Description:...
(tatooing), Maori-Pakeha interactions around Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, and historic sites around New Zealand, Adam's work has been extensively exhibited within New Zealand as well as Europe, Australia and South Africa. His work has also featured in Brazil's São Paulo biennale.
In 1997 Adams was awarded the Southland Art Foundation Artist in Residence award.
His work is represented in most of New Zealand's major art institutions, including the Auckland Art Gallery
Auckland Art Gallery
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is the principal public gallery in Auckland, New Zealand and has the most extensive collection of national and international art in New Zealand...
, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
and Christchurch Art Gallery.
In 2009, his photographs featured in a new book Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture published by Te Papa Press, the publication arm of New Zealand's national museum. The book tells the story of Samoan master tattooist, the late Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II
Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II
Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II was a Samoan tattooist, tufuga ta tatau , in New Zealand.Suluape was from the Su'a family of Lefaga, a family well known as tufuga ta tatau in Samoa...
.
Adams lived for many years in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand where he has also taught photography.
Publications
- Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture (2009), ISBN 0909010110, ISBN 9780909010119, published by Te Papa Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, edited by Sean Mallon and Nicholas Thomas.
- Rauru: Tene Waitere, Maori Carving, Colonial History (8 July 2009), ASIN 1877372617, ISBN 9781877372612, published by Otago University Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, James Schuster, Lyonel Grant, edited by Nicholas Thomas.
- Cook's Sites: Revisiting History (1 Jan 1999), ISBN 9781877133824, illustrated edition published by Otago University Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, edited by Nicholas Thomas.
- Land of memories : a contemporary view of places of historical significance in the South Island of New Zealand (1993), ISBN 9780908884247, published by Tandem Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, text by Harry Evison.
Interviews
- Chapter and Verse - Tatau, Broadcast Sunday 25 April 2010 on Radio New Zealand National (8'23")