“The Auckland Islands lie 465 km south of New Zealand’s South Island port of Bluff. They are the largest of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands, with a combined area of 57,000 ha. As well as having a wide variety of plants and wildlife they also have a rich human history. The islands are of great cultural and spiritual significance to Ngāi Tahu. Traditions include stories of expeditions to the Auckland Islands to gather food and other natural resources, by Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu in succession. The story of Tama Rereti tells of a group of chiefs and tohunga who were the first to venture into the Southern Ocean, searching for the Aurora Australis. The islands are known to iwi both as Maungahuka (a name which may reference the white tips on mountainous waves in the surrounding seas) and Mōtū Maha.”

Adams Island presents Roger Mortimer’s exploration of cultural and natural landscapes, blending his cross artistic approach with historical, ecological, and spiritual narratives. Inspired by the Auckland Islands of New Zealand, Mortimer’s works engage with the themes of exploration, identity, and connection. Through a rich tapestry of medieval European symbolism, Māori place names, and postmodern visual techniques, Mortimer intertwines past and present, creating a visual dialogue that speaks to both history and the ongoing cultural evolution of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Through his intricate maps and tapestries, Roger Mortimer evokes the deeply rooted spiritual significance of these islands, while also illuminating the lasting impact of colonialism and ecological disruption. His paintings, laden with symbolism, invite the viewer to consider the interwoven narratives of the past, present, and future — where the land and its people are inextricably linked by memory, myth, and survival. Adams Island captures the essence of a place whose isolation and natural beauty have endured, despite the ravages of introduced species such as pigs, cats and mice to its neighbour, Auckland Island. It remains a sanctuary of wilderness for New Zealand’s collective identity.

There are also inner psychological landscapes in Mortimer’s paintings, with suffering inflicted by devilish characters wielding spears and centaurs with arrows. These vignettes carry inner turmoil and struggles from personal histories and relationships.

Mortimer’s work is more than an aesthetic exercise; it is an attempt at a visual record of the collective human journey, emphasizing connections across time, geography, and cultures. The exhibit captures the essence of Aotearoa as a place of unity and complex identity, where Māori traditions, European colonial legacies, and modern influences converge. Through these works, Mortimer invites viewers to reflect on the intertwined histories and futures of the lands and people of New Zealand.