‘This is a work for humanity’: Anton Forde on his monumental installation

Anton Forde’s (b.1973), Invercargill, Aotearoa (New Zealand) monumental installation of 81 over-life-size figures, Papare Eighty.one (2024) with Shiree Reihana, is shown in the UK for the first time in a new site-specific configuration, Tiaki Ora ∞ Protecting Life, at the Sainsbury Centre.

The wooden figures (pou), hand carved by Forde at 8.2 feet tall, are presented in a defensive V-shaped formation inspired by migratory birds’ united flying formation, wear garments woven by kaiwhatu (traditional Māori weaver) Shiree Reihana – which elevate the honour of the individual pou as well as the collective work – as well as a Pounamu/nephrite teardrop necklace, seen as a token of sympathy and shared emotion.

Forde’s work is a call for kotahitanga: unity, togetherness and solidarity. It shows that collective action can safeguard the future of our communities for generations to come, without need for killing – both physically and culturally.

We sat down with Anton Forde to talk all about the work, in his biggest interview to date.

Tiaki Ora ∞ Protecting Life: Anton Forde is on display from 2 August 2025 to 19 April 2026. This exhibition is a precursor to our upcoming 2025 season Can We Stop Killing Each Other?

Interviewer: Kate Wolstenholme

Filming: Ebi Fegha and Kate Wolstenholme

Editing: Kate Wolstenholme

Please note a correction: The video credited at 01:35 belongs to Mark Tantrum, courtesy of Pātaka Art + Museum. The subtitle ‘Rames’ should also be noted correctly as ‘Reims’.