INFO
| Name | Mariadelle Gamit (they/she) |
| Also known as | Abbey, RNG†sus |
| Born | 1994 |
| Country of Birth | Philippines |
| Place of Residence | Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland |
| Ethnicities | Filipino |
| Artform | Visual arts, Club nights, Music |
| Decades Active | 2020s, 2010s |
ABOUT
Mariadelle ‘Abbey’ Gamit is a queer Filipino interdisciplinary artist, DJ and co-director of the event collective All My Friends, based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Their family moved to Aotearoa from Manila in 2006 — when Gamit was 12 years old — in search of a slower pace of life. In 2017, they graduated with First Class Honours from Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland.
Gamit is drawn to the digital world as a place of escapism and empowerment. Their art practice seeks to find humanity in the digital realm, pushing back against the glossy simulations of reality by creating ‘sincere’ expressions of self that are, as they describe it: “un-polished and oftentimes ‘cringey'". About their work, Gamit says:
Living as a marginalised individual, generating an online reality allows for rebellion against the physical one. Avatars, both in game and in social media, not only present our ideal image but also hold power by influencing and determining how society interacts with our actual organic body. I see my art as an extension of myself. By placing it in the public platform, I hope to share the way a queer, migrant, woman of colour navigates Aotearoa and the wider world; online and irl (in real life).
In Āhua Collective’s opening exhibition: An Exploration of Identity, Gamit’s works — in which they depict themself as a naked avatar from The Sims video game — blur the boundaries between virtual space and reality. Their avatar was composed of 78 images compressed together which Gamit calls 'next-level nudes'. Seeing their stretch marks and bruises was initially confronting for them, but they consider making the work to be cathartic, where the once uncomfortable images do not hold power anymore.
Gamit’s interest in world-building isn’t just limited to the digital space. As a co-director of All My Friends, they are always thinking about creating more vibrant and inclusive experiences for POC and queer people. They see it as a way of sharing resources and knowledge, as well as building networks for the community.
Another way they create vibrant queer experiences is through their DJ persona RNG†sus. They have played for a range of different events, including Pride In The Square, Lychee Baybee, the FIFA Fan Festival and Asian Soundscapes, as well as having guest mixes featured on BFM’s First of the Month Radio and Bassment shows. “Here to take you on a trip with mixes that are determined largely by luck, chance or randomness on the dance floor. Either way, it's a guaranteed good time!” is how Gamit describes their music creation.
LINKS
Key works / presentations
2024 – Niu Gold Mountain Exhibition 2024, Studio One Toi Tū, Tāmaki Makaurau, group show
2024 – Favourite Things, Auckland Pride, Freyberg Square, Tāmaki Makaurau
2024 – Midtown's Many Lovers, Darby Street, Tāmaki Makaurau, group show
2023 – Niu Gold Mountain Exhibition 2023, Studio One Toi Tū, Tāmaki Makaurau, group show
2022 – Artists on Artists, Studio One Toi Tū, Tāmaki Makaurau
2022 – To Fashion, New Zealand Fashion Museum, Britomart, Tāmaki Makaurau
2022 – Reframing Karakia, Studio One Toi Tū, Tāmaki Makaurau, Āhua Collective, group show
2022 – An Evolution of Identity - Navigating our Space, Studio One Toi Tū, Tāmaki Makaurau, Āhua Collective, group show
2021 – An Exploration of Identity, Mercury Plaza Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau, Āhua Collective, group show
2019 – Memories of Mercury Plaza, zine entry
2019 – AM|PM (On and off the clock), Eight Thirty Coffee Roasters, Tāmaki Makaurau, group show
2019 – Flavour-Full, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau, group show
2019 – Showcase, Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Tāmaki Makaurau, group show
2018 – Under your skin you look divine, Basement Adult Shop, Tāmaki Makaurau, group show
