Telly Tuita: The Immortal Tango Of Love and War

8 February 2024 - 2 March 2024

Bergman Gallery Auckland is proud to present Telly Tuita’s – The Immortal Tango Of Love And War, ‘Ofa & Taú.

Artist Telly Tuita’s chronicle mash up of historical and contemporary art, music, movies and literature with his own cultural origins defines the artists self coined genre of Tongpop (Tongan Pop). 

Tuita’s characters ‘Ofa and Taú (Roman deities Mars and Venus) are treated to the grand manner style of his performative self-portraiture, the artist embodying both guises through movement, self-made costumes, props & recycled accessories. ‘Ofa and Taú are beguilingly in shiny metallic pink and blue body suits, surrounded by Tongpop flotsam, for a divine enactment and re-examination. Are they friend or foe, lovers, warmongers, or peace makers? Or all of the above? 

Telly Tuita is based in Pōneke/Wellington. His photographs took over Britomart Precinct during the Aotearoa Art Fair 2023. The artist also featured on the cover of ArtZone magazine. His series Tongpop Pantheon was selected for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in Victoria, Australia. August-October 2023. 

The Immortal Tango Of Love And War, ‘Ofa & Taú will be shown alongside Tuita's acclaimed photographic series The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.