Robert Jahnke, Te Hokinga mai, 5-27 June 2015
Te Hokinga mai, 5-27 June 2015
Primarily a sculptor, Bob Jahnke is considered one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary Maori artists. He works with a range of media including found objects, steel and lead. Of Samoan-German-Irish-Maori heritage, his work is typically based on political issues that face Maori people, the relationship between Maori and European colonisers and the impact of Christianity on Maori culture.
After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University, Bob Jahnke headed to the California Institute of the Arts where he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Experimental Animation.
Returning to New Zealand, he taught in Hastings, Rotorua and Auckland before shifting to Palmerston North to join the staff of Massey University. While a lecturer he studied for and earned his PhD and, in 1991, set up the Bachelor of Maori Visual Arts Programme Te Putahi-a-Toi, which he has subsequently coordinated. In addition to training in the arts, the progamme includes Te Reo Maori (Maori language) and Tikanga Maori (Maori protocol). He is Professor of Maori Visual Arts.
His work has been exhibited widely and is included in both public and private collections.