Tauranga Art Gallery - Toi Tauranga

The Captain - 19 Oct 2009

Stories of James Cook’s epic voyages and discoveries have captured the imaginations of New Zealanders since he first arrived on these shores as lieutenant in command of the HM Bark Endeavour, in October 1769.

His exploits have been, and continue to be, the subject of books, artworks and memorabilia, while his name has been attributed to places, roads and buildings throughout the country. Cook is ever present in New Zealand life.

The Captain, an exhibition developed by Tauranga Art Gallery, explores the many images of Cook in historical and contemporary art, statues, coins and stamps.

Gallery director and curator of the exhibition, Richard Arlidge, says the story of James Cook and his journeys and tragic death in the South Pacific, has been a subject for artists since the 1770s.

“Early works often depict Cook as a heroic figure in the Age of Enlightenment. Contemporary artists continue to revisit these stories, and look at Cook the man, and some of the difficulties he encountered on his journeys.

“Marian Maguire for example, has explored the parallel between Homer’s Odyssey and Cook’s voyage into the unknown. Gavin Hurley presents a glimpse of the man behind the uniform, while Nigel Brown shows us the everyday person, like you and I”.

Bay of Plenty historians Dean Flavell, Jinty Rorke and John Coster have also contributed opinions on James Cook for the exhibition.

Dr Paul Tapsell from the University of Otago and Professor Dame Anne Salmond from the University of Auckland, will give lectures on Cook in December, and anthropologists Dr Michael Goldsmith and Dr Tom Ryan from the University of Waikato, will give lectures in late January. Visit www.artgallery.org.nz for further information.

The Captain will be at Tauranga Art Gallery from 21 October and runs through until 31 January 2010.