Puka Pikitia - Toi Hikitia | Picturebooks - Artistic Hooks

When children engage with picture books, they are simultaneously being introduced to the world of art. Drawing on the University of Waikato Te Iho o Te Manawataki|Library collections, this exhibition delves into the superhero trope to highlight the underestimated power of picture books in art and children's literature.

Picture books are the unsung superheroes of our lives, with artists and illustrators working undercover to create magic. These books weave stories through text, image, and voice often in their telling, making them true superheroes. One of the lesser-known superpowers of picture books lies in their illustrations. These illustrations introduce viewers to an artistic vocabulary of colour, line, foreground, background, perspective, and more.

The five artists featured in this exhibition create work that performs superhero feats. Their art draws our tamariki into stories, encouraging them to read and view images that reflect their identities and the endless possibilities of the world around them. These superheroes care for each other and our environment, explore our surroundings, challenge norms, and connect with the unseen world.