Art & creativity, Central city, Things to do  |  2h ago

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A landmark exhibition offering the first comprehensive exploration of the work of acclaimed New Zealand photographer Mark Adams will opens at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū this weekend.

Developed and first presented at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in 2025, Mark Adams: A Survey | He Kohinga Whakaahua brings together more than 65 photographs spanning Adams’ remarkable 50‑year career.

Adams is celebrated for his sustained engagement with the histories, landscapes and cultural relationships that shape Aotearoa, including whakairo Māori (Māori carving), the work of tufuga tatatau (master tattoo artists) in Samoan communities, Captain James Cook landing sites, and locations where Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed. 

The exhibition was curated by Dr Sarah Farrar, Head of Curatorial and Learning at Auckland Art Gallery, who also authored an accompanying book on Adams’ work.

“Part of what makes Adams’ photography so compelling,” says Dr Farrar, “is its sheer range, from intimate contact prints to panoramas that stretch across entire gallery walls.

“This survey provides an unprecedented opportunity to experience Adams’ key works together in one space and closer inspection reveals abiding interests that span the decades.

“The accompanying publication extends the experience with additional images and context that builds on what visitors will encounter in the exhibition,” says Dr Farrar.

Mark Adams 07.10.1978. Triangle Road. Massey. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Tattooing Tom Ah Fook. Tufuga tatatau: Su‘a Sulu‘ape Paulo II. Solo: Arona and Leo Maselino 1978. C-type print. Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, gift of the artist, 2021.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Director Blair Jackson says it is a privilege to present this nationally significant survey in the artist’s home city.

“Adams is one of our most influential photographers, and his connections to this city make this exhibition particularly meaningful. We’re thrilled to share this body of work.

“Visitors to the Gallery can expect a powerful and immersive experience. Many of these works have become touchstones in New Zealand photography and seeing them brought together at this scale is extraordinary.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to host this exhibition and to celebrate an artist who has contributed so profoundly to our visual and cultural understanding,” says Jackson.

Mark Adams: A Survey | He Kohinga Whakaahua opens Saturday 7 March 2026 and closes on 26 July 2026. The exhibition is accompanied by a substantial publication authored by Dr Sarah Farrar, which has recently been longlisted for the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, offering further insight into Adams’ practice and long-standing collaborations.