Luke Willis Thompson is a Fijian New Zealand artist, currently based in Tāmaki. His politically geared practice circulates various mediums that are often conceptually driven; working amongst moving image, photography, performance, installation, and sculpture, as modes of exploration.
His current solo exhibition at Ngutu Kākā gallery, B42040A1A1A presents Two major moving image works, Whakamoemoeā (2024), and Soro (2025). Each work utilizes this visual language of political theatre to imagine a decolonial future for Aotearoa.
This exhibition includes the first presentation of Whakamoemoeā in Aotearoa since its first viewing at the Shajah Biennial. The work set in 2040 centres a powerful address in te reo Māori on the Waitgani grounds by recognised broadcaster, journalist, and politician, Oriini Kaipara.
The Second work shown within this exhibition Soro, envisions a re-enactment of the 2021 Dawn Raids Apology. Set 10 years on from former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s apology, Where an unnamed Prime Minister delivers the speech out of frame, the camera Instead focused on recognised NZSL interpreter Alan Wendt.
Maya caught up with Luke about the show, and overall practice.
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