Rimurapa

Inky black and white photographs of kelp (rimurapa) comprise Neil Pardington's exhibition at Jonathan Smart Gallery. Shot in the studio after being collected from Huetepara, Lyall Bay, the works are presented in high contrast against white or light grey backgrounds, making the plant fragments appear to float and fall across large sheets of paper. The photographs range from closely cropped details to more complete shots, each revealing intricate patterning and texture. One suite of four works is notably anthropomorphic, full of movement in the dance between blacks and off-whites. The series references cultural significance—the kelp poha in which Ngai Tahu traditionally store and carry titi (mutton birds). Individual works evoke different responses: some suggest coiled menace, others embody renewal and hope. The exhibition comprises fourteen Rimurapa works, all pigment prints on archival photo rag, unmounted, created in 2024-2025.