Heritage, culture and people - Darcell Apelu
Darcell Apelu (b. 1990 Niue, Pakeha & Te Atiawa) is an artist, academic and educator whose research practice within the contemporary art sector explores the social and cultural ideologies of Aotearoa, focusing on legacy and embedded ancestry.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2011 and a Masters in Art and Design in 2013 from Auckland University of Technology, Darcell has taught on the Bachelor of Creative Industries Degree at Toi Ohomai in Poike since 2014. Her practice-led research investigates identity, place, and the enduring influence of heritage narratives.
Darcell has been recognised with residencies, including the inaugural Te Tuhi/Yorkshire Sculpture Park Residency (2019) and the BC Collective Lafaiki Residency (2017) in Niue.
Her work has been exhibited widely, including at SCAPE Ōtautahi, Toi o Tāmaki Art Gallery Auckland, Te Tuhi Arts Centre, Tauranga Art Gallery, and Kunsthalle Fauste in Germany. Darcell is also a panel member for the Tauranga City Council Public Art framework and a preliminary Judge for the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award (2024).
Recent works include:
Apelu, D. (2024). Carry me with you. [Powder-coated aluminium]. SCAPE Public art season 2024: Material/immaterial worlds. Christchurch Botanical Gardens, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Apelu, D. (2024). Which Label?. [Gold perspex mirrors]. Suss 3: Reimaging gendered social constructs. ITP Research Symposium, Auckland, New Zealand.
Apelu, D. (2023). Untitled. [3 x Silver Mirrored Perspex]. Champs. Granville Centre art Gallery, Sydney, New South Wales.
Apelu, D. (2023). Carry Me With You. [Powder-coated aluminium]. Carry Me With You. Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand.
Apelu, D. (2023). Slap. [Moving Image]. 10th Anniversary Asia-Europe Mediations Biennnale. ArtIstanbul Feshane, Istanbul, Turkey.
Apelu, D. (2023). You leave traces in my blood. [Mirrored acrylic]. Tai Timu Tai Pari. Cargo Shed, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Apelu, D. (2023), Cycles of Legacy. In L Lopesi (Ed.), Pacific Arts Aotearoa (pp 458-459). Penguin Random House New Zealand.