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The Mangawhai Artists Gallery is proud to present It’s All About the Story, a compelling photographic exhibition featuring the work of photographers Jan Maree Vodanovich and Greg Pringle.
While their subjects differ, both artists are united by a common purpose: uncovering and sharing the stories that surround us, whether found in the untamed spirit of New Zealand’s wild horses or the intricate details of the natural world often overlooked in everyday life.
For more than 20 years, Jan Maree Vodanovich has documented the wild Kaimanawa horse herds of the central North Island, creating a deeply personal body of work that explores themes of freedom, resilience, belonging, identity and connection. The exhibition also marks the official launch of her newly completed book, Heart and Soul – A Kaimanawa Story, a project nearly two decades in the making. Through powerful photography and mixed-media works, Vodanovich captures not only the beauty of these remarkable horses but also the emotional bond between the animals and the people dedicated to their protection.
“Every horse has a story, and every photograph is part of a much larger narrative about survival, connection and belonging,” Vodanovich says. “My hope is that people will see beyond the image and feel something of the spirit and heart of these extraordinary animals.”
In contrast, Greg Pringle turns his lens towards the stories hidden in smaller and more familiar worlds. His first major exhibition brings together four themes: Small Worlds, Retro, Mangawhai Landscapes and Flights of Fancy. From the extraordinary details of insects and flowers to nostalgic childhood icons, local birdlife and the textures of Mangawhai’s landscapes, Pringle invites viewers to pause and discover fresh perspectives on the subjects around them.
“I’m fascinated by the stories that exist in everyday things,” Pringle says. “Photography gives us an opportunity to stop, look more closely and appreciate details we might otherwise pass by. Every subject has a story if we take the time to notice it.”
Together, the exhibition demonstrates that every photograph contains a story waiting to be told. Whether vast and wild or intimate and familiar, these narratives reveal connections to place, memory, nature and community.
The exhibition is showing at Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, Mangawhai, open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm (and from 9am on Saturdays) until Thursday, 9 July 2026.
