Mark Adams (photographer)


Mark Adams is a New Zealand photographer.

Early life and education

He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and attended the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts from 1967–1970, majoring in graphic design to get access to photography.

I learned bugger all at art school. Tom Palaskas, a fellow student, taught me how to develop film and print. I taught myself how to use cameras. Then I discovered the art schools 4 x 5-inch Linhof plate camera and taught myself how to use that. That changed everything. That was the future.

Life and work

After art school Adams became interested in painting through a long-term friendship with the artist Tony Fomison and later Theo Schoon.
Best known for his work on documenting Samoan tatau, Maori-Pakeha interactions around Rotorua, and historic sites around New Zealand, Adam's work has been extensively exhibited within New Zealand as well as Europe, Australia and South Africa. His work has also featured in Brazil's São Paulo biennale.
In 1997 Adams was awarded the Southland Art Foundation Artist in Residence award.
His work is represented in most of New Zealand's major art institutions, including the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Christchurch Art Gallery.
In 2009, his photographs featured in a new book Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture published by Te Papa Press, the publication arm of New Zealand's national museum. The book tells the story of Samoan master tattooist, the late Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II.
Adams lived for many years in Auckland, New Zealand where he has also taught photography.

Publications

  • Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture,,, published by Te Papa Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, edited by Sean Mallon and Nicholas Thomas.
  • Rauru: Tene Waitere, Maori Carving, Colonial History, ASIN 1877372617,, published by Otago University Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, James Schuster, Lyonel Grant, edited by Nicholas Thomas.
  • Cook's Sites: Revisiting History,, illustrated edition published by Otago University Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, edited by Nicholas Thomas.
  • Land of memories : a contemporary view of places of historical significance in the South Island of New Zealand,, published by Tandem Press, Photographs by Mark Adams, text by Harry Evison.

Exhibitions