Tabatha Forbes MFA

For the last decade Tabatha Forbes has been concerned with the way that we view, experience and understand our natural environment. 

Drawn to the period of history that notably changed the way that nature was perceived and valued in the Pacific (with the introduction of colonialism), Forbes work directly references that history by looking at the tradition of botanical and natural history art. As a contemporary interpretation, the work takes on many of the old aesthetics of that period, but always includes a conceptual evaluation of our ever changing perception of place.  
For example, her 2006 exhibition “Savage / Comfort” was comprised of a series of works drawn directly from the Auckland Museum’s collection of plants by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander during James Cook’s Pacific voyage from 1769 - 1771.  The plants were collected in the Queen Charlotte Sounds area in New Zealand and the show included text from the journals of Banks, Parkinson and Solander as they noted their first impressions.   They were painted on stretched possum skins, the possums themselves (considered a major environmental pest in NZ) having being trapped and processed in that same region of National park.  

These initial perceptions, the way in which they were documented holds an ongoing curiosity as Forbes believes it is responsible, however subconscious to the way Europeans in the pacific value, use, and understand nature.   

Tertiary education

2008-10:  Currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Fine Arts, Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland.

2005: Completion of MFA degree, First Class Honors, Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland.

1996: Completion of BFA degree, Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland.

1992: Photographic Design Course, Wellington School of Design, Wellington Polytechnic.

Selected exhibitions

2012: Opens November 2012, BCA Gallery, Rarotonga.

2011: Takeaways - Painting exhibition/ installation, BCA Gallery, Rarotonga; ‘I don’t know your name…but I’ll call you’, painting exhibition CEAC, Auckland, NZ;
SEED Gallery group exhibition, Auckland.

2010: Painting works in Milles Fleurs Exhibition, Suter Gallery, Nelson; Painting works in Putiputi Exhibition, Hastings City Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay.

2009: Outside, exhibition with Karen Crisp at the George Fraser Gallery, Auckland; Inclusion in two group exhibitions at SEED Gallery, Auckland. Painting in the Vaka show, The Art Studio, Aorangi, Rarotonga.

2008: Paintings in group exhibition: Western Gothic, Corban Estate Arts Centre, Auckland; Botanic Verses, drawing exhibition, Oui Boutique/Gallery, K’Rd, Auckland. 

2007: Painting and video works in group show Wild Creations Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland; Centre of the Universe, painting exhibition, Compose Gallery, Auckland; Wallace Art Award Finalist: Aotea and Dowse Art Museum Exhibitions, Akld / Wlgtn; Inclusion in Christmas exhibition at Corban Estate Arts Centre, Auckland.

2006: Commission of paintings / prose for glass walls (12 meters) in new Waitakere City Council Building, Henderson, Auckland; Souvenirs in Paradise -Painting exhibition Ghuznee Room / Bowen Galleries, Wellington; Savage / Comfort -Painting exhibition Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland; Painting exhibition Compose Gallery, Auckland; Group show ‘Bugged’ Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland.

2005: Installation – painting, video and sound Elam Masters Exhibition, Auckland; Painting works in group show Corban Estate Arts Centre, Auckland.

2004: Painting exhibition Palette Gallery, Auckland; Painting exhibition PPG Gallery, Auckland; Painting exhibition Civic Gallery, Napier; Paintings shown at Waitakere City Council, building, Auckland.

2003: Tribute to Lucy Cranwell – Solo Painting exhibition, Corbans Estate Art Centre. Auckland; Paintings in group show at Corbans Estate Art Centre - (CEAC) Auckland.

2002: Paintings – exhibited at the Studio of Contemporary Art, Auckland and shown in Hamilton.

2001: Good Day, Bad Night – 3 recent video installations, Light Box Gallery. Au ckland; Honeymoon – site specific video installation, 911 Dominion Road. (part of Elam Sculpture exhibition), Auckland; Happy Birthday Darling – Performance. 911 Dominion Road. (part of Elam Sculpture exhibition); Night & Day – Performance/installation, Light Box Gallery. Auckland.

2000: Pretty Choice eh? – Video/sound Installation. Physics Room. Christchurch; Still Speeding – Sound Installation / Performance - in association with Drive exhibition, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth; Floor Talk – Sound Sculpture Collaboration with James Charlton – Commission for the new GreyLynn Community Centre, Auckland.

1999: Mute - Window video Installation. In association with Archill Gallery. Auckland; Mutiny - Performance Installation. Le Mata Theatre. Auckland.
Preparing for Mutiny - Artist in Residence, Pilot Gallery, and window space on campus, AUT, Auckland; This Golden Life 1. Installation.  Site specific Group Show, Canterbury Arcade, Auckland;  Couch – Sound/video/painting installation, Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland; SoundCulture 99: Performance at the Festival Opening at the Auckland Art Gallery and performance with Relay at The Crypt, Auckland.

1998: 3 Score: An opera, sound and dance (3 nights of performance) – curator/performer, Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland;  The line that separates us – Multimedia installation. George Fraser Gallery. Akld ; Stage ArtWear: Site specific installation/ performance event,  K’rd, Auckland; Bliss – performance and artist talk at Elam School of Fine Arts; Bad Girl – performance / artist talk, Auckland City Art Gallery; Project Preview (pp 1-9) – Site Specific installation. Richmond Rd. Auckland; Sudersuk – Performance & soundtrack for Florian Habicht’s feature film, Liebestraum; Relay – Goes West, Performance, Lopdell House.