15 August–19 September
Crystal singing bowl performance by Alchemy Aotearoa

A celestial body is a naturally occurring physical entity, such as a sun, planet, moon, or asteroid that exists in the observable universe. Over the course of human history, there has existed an evolving relationship between us and our most influential celestial bodies; the sun and the moon. They inspire humanity, they impact us by their very existence, but still, historically in myth and story, we have given them extra power by imbuing them with personality, motive and even deification. 

In the case of this work, Sol and Luna allow us to see them in their humanised forms as they travel their intersecting paths across an idyllically scenic yet brooding realm. Sun and moon, gold and silver, pass across the sky meeting once  to ‘touch’ in an eclipse redolent of ‘conjunctio’, the alchemical marriage. While we are watching them, only once do they turn to face us and acknowledge our gaze, but even then they look through and beyond us, as if our existence doesn’t touch them at all. 

The exhibition presents a nine‑channel video across three screens where Sol and Luna move and intersect creating a looping narrative reflecting the recurring movement of the celestial bodies. The work positions celestial mythology within a contemporary visual framework, highlighting how ancient narratives persist in modern visual culture.

Ko tētahi o te whānau mārama he hanga kikokiko ka puta māori noa pērā i te rā, te aorangi, te marama, te aorangi iti rānei kei te ao tukupū ka kitea e te karu. Taka iho i ngā hītori mō te tangata, tērā tētahi hononga kuneroa i waenga i a tātou me ērā o te whānau mārama kawenga nui; te rā me te marama. Whakaohooho ana rāua i te tangata, he pāpātanga ō rāua i te iringa noa mai, heoi anō, heke iho i roto i ngā pakiwaitara, he mana nui atu kua uhia ki a rāua i tā tātou whakatō atu i te tuakiri, te kaupapa, tae atu ki te atuatanga.  

Ko tētahi o te whānau mārama he hanga kikokiko ka puta māori noa pērā i te rā, te aorangi, te marama, te aorangi iti rānei kei te ao tukupū ka kitea e te karu. Taka iho i ngā hītori mō te tangata, tērā tētahi hononga kuneroa i waenga i a tātou me ērā o te whānau mārama kawenga nui; te rā me te marama. Whakaohooho ana rāua i te tangata, he pāpātanga ō rāua i te iringa noa mai, heoi anō, heke iho i roto i ngā pakiwaitara, he mana nui atu kua uhia ki a rāua i tā tātou whakatō atu i te tuakiri, te kaupapa, tae atu ki te atuatanga.  

E tāpaea ana e te whakaaturanga he ataata hongere-iwa rere i ētahi mata e toru, e rere ai, e whakawhiti ai a Rā rāua ko Marama, e tuhia ai he kōrero hurihuri e whakaahua ana i te nekehanga auau a te whānau mārama. E whakanoho mai ana te mahi i te pakiwaitara mō te whānau mārama ki te anga ataata ao hou, e whakamiramirahia ai te āhua o te kitea tonutia o te kōrero o nehe i te ahurea ataata o te ao hou. 

Kuputaka / Glossary
Idyllically scenic yet brooding realm – ao kaurerehu whakapau kanohi
Eclipse – te āraitanga a tētahi i tētahi
Redolent of ‘conjunctio’, the alchemical marriage - me he ‘hononga tapu’

Translation by  Te Haumihiata Mason (Licenced Translator)