Every word, thought, object, mineral, place and person

Fiona Pardington, Ana Iti

Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery
Victoria University of Wellington, Gate 3 Kelburn Parade, Kelburn, Wellington

26 November 2025 – 10 March 2026

[detail from] Fiona Pardington, Mauria Mai, Tono Ano (Bringing to Light/Claiming Again), 2001, silver gelatin photograph, 875 x 735mm, Ngā Puhipuhi o Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection, purchased 2002.

This pairing of Ana Iti’s A dusty handrail on the track (2021) with Fiona Pardington’s Mauria Mai, Tono Ano (Bringing to Light/Claiming Again) (2001) from Ngā Puhipuhi o Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection responds to Living / Building the joint Romantic Studies Association of Australasia/David Nichol Seminar conference, 26–28 November 2025. The conference is a chance to think about connections between the literary, artistic, political, and scientific culture of the ‘long’ Romantic period (c. 1750–1850) and today. Living / Building draws inspiration from the building of Te Herenga Waka’s Living Pā, the Māori meeting house, research and teaching facility on campus now known as Ngā Mokopuna. Ngā Mokopuna aspires to Living Building™ certification, meaning that it is built to high sustainability and environmental standards according to a building philosophy which seeks to actively do good rather than just reducing harm. Embedded throughout the project are Māori principles of design, learning, and community.

Ana Iti, A dusty handrail on the track, 2021, single channel digital video, 10 mins 56 secs, Ngā Puhipuhi o Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection, purchased as part of the University’s 125-year anniversary celebrations 2022