John Vea: 96 degrees in the shade

96 degrees in the shade is a durational performance by John Vea that explores ideas of impermanence and itinerancy through the entanglement of labour and access to shelter.

  • Words by Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival
  • Last updated 17 Sep 2025

 In the work, the artist disassembles and reassembles a mobile shoe-shine kiosk—commonly found in the streets of Busan—under the partial shade of a post as it moves throughout the course of a working day. The work acknowledges the often extreme conditions that labourers work in and raises questions about the politics of shelter: who has access to shade, and what might this shade obscure? The performance reveals how these tensions resonate within the increased precarity that global migrant workforces face: through the erosion of workers’ rights and the effects of climate change.

Location Te wāhi
Te Tuhi Gallery
13 Reeves Road, Pakuranga,
Plan your route
Getting there Te huarahi ki reira

It is easily accessible via car or public transport, with a bus stop located right outside the gallery.

Local tip He tīwhiri mō te rohe

While you’re in the area check out the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway for stunning views of the Tamaki Estuary.