Jono Rotman will present a solo exhibition at Parlour from October 5 through November 5, 2016.

Titled Omarunui, the exhibition will feature six large-scale photographs that thematically explore the historical events that took place at Omarunui on October 12, 1866 and their enduring impact today. The exhibition, which forms part of the 2016 Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival programme, coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Omarunui. This is the first time that this important body of work will be on public display.

The Omarunui series includes five photographs that examine glass-plate negatives from the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington and one photograph of the Omarunui memorial, which was unveiled by veterans in 1916 to mark the 50th anniversary of the battle and subsequently knocked over in the 1990s in an act of protest. Essays by Jono Rotman, Peter Ireland, Brett Graham, and Denis O’Reilly accompany the exhibition.

The public are invited to attend an opening reception for Omarunui on Wednesday, October 5 from 5pm—6pm at 306 Eastbourne Street East, Hastings.

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Jono Rotman (b. 1974) grew up in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. He divides his time between Aotearoa New Zealand and the USA. Since 2001 he has been the subject of multiple solo exhibitions, including most recently at Gow Langford Gallery and City Gallery Wellington. In 2013 he was the recipient of the Marti Friedlander Photographic Award. Jono’s work is held in prominent private and public collections.