Joining the Te Whare Hēra family for September 2026 is artist and Walters Prize Nominee for 2027, Sorawit Songsataya.

Drawing from material cultures, situated knowledge, and ecological belief systems related to Thai, distant Vietnamese family heritage, and Aotearoa New Zealand; the artist’s home for over 25 years, Sorawit Songsataya's practice foregrounds the interrelated aspects of the social and the dynamic natural world through a range of material specificities, including Ōamaru limestone, rattan, and Chanthaburi sedge. Giving particular attention to Thai artisanship while drawing sonic and geopoetic connections to Aotearoa New Zealand, the artist deploys 3D animation, moving image, sculpture, site-responsive installation, and sound to explore the complex relationship between places and experiences; addressing positionality, relationality, and reciprocity – commingling the personal and the planetary dimensions within their artistic care.

Image still from Listening device Hanoi (2025)

Sorawit will be giving a public artist talk in The Reading Room at Te Papa Tongarewa, on 8th September, followed by a limited entry workshop at Te Whare Hēra on 19th September, and a filming session on 26th September (TBC). Keep a lookout in the events section on this website HERE and our instagram page HERE for more information.