Arts Foundation honours Dame Robin White as ‘Icon’

Dec 23

Dec 23 Arts Foundation honours Dame Robin White as ‘Icon’

Warm congratulations to Dame Robin White, one of three artists who received the Arts Foundation “Icon Award” this year. These “Icons” are a circle of New Zealand’s 20 most significant living artists. The awards were presented on 14 December by the Governor-General, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro.

The two other artists inducted as Icons this year were Dame Jane Campion and Fatu Feu’u ONZM.

“An Icon has a mysterious ability to channel profound insights into the human condition, and provoke a sense of wonder and recognition”, said Dame Cindy.

As a Bahá’í, Robin has given decades of service to the Faith in Aotearoa and Kiribati, and has been a keen collaborator with other Bahá’í artists.

Arts Foundation General Manager Jessica Palalagi, in an article about the Icon Awards, noted: “Dame Robin makes us think about the landscapes and people that make up our country, and most recently the meaning of collaboration – and what it can look like in different stages of your life and work.” (What makes an icon an “icon”?)

Reviewing an exhibition of Robin’s works at Te Papa, Mark Amery wrote: “Working often now in collaboration with others across the Pacific through to Japan, melding traditions and iconographies, White draws Aotearoa gently into the moana, working collectively across faiths and cultures. Reflecting her Bahá’í faith is a strong message of humanity’s need to work together for the future.” (Te Hīkoi Toi: Something not nothing is happening here)

More about Dame Robin’s award and her work as an artist:

Featured photo — At Government House for the awards presentation. Front row from left: Michael Fudakowski, Dame Gaylene Preston, Dame Robin White. Back row: Ebonie Fifita, Meliame Fifita, Tamari Cabeikanacea, Susana Lei'ataua, Mike McCombie. Photo / Mark Tantrum. Source: Ensemble Magazine: What people wore: A night celebrating Aotearoa's new Arts icons