A crowd of more than 100 people turned out to Mahiriki Tangaroa’s new exhibition ‘In a Perfect World’ at Bergman Gallery, Taputapuatea.

Key note speaker Financial Secretary Garth Henderson elaborated on the recent Cook Islands Government SMART Grants and Cook Islands contemporary art as a developing export, while artist Mahiriki Tangaroa spoke to the conceptual premise behind her latest exhibition. 

Special guests included Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, Lady Tuaine Marsters, Cook Islands Cultural Development Secretary Anthony Turua and Her Excellency, Tui Dewes, the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

A livestream of the opening was broadcast via Facebook courtesy of the Cook Islands Ministry of Cultural Development.

Gallery patrons, sponsors and a broad section of the private sector were also in attendance in support of Bergman Gallery’s upcoming appearance at the Auckland Art Fair in February 2021 featuring artists Sylvia Marsters and Mahiriki Tangaroa.

Bergman Gallery’s next project features 20 artists and will open across two exhibition spaces on November 30.