Spotlight, acclaimed filmmaker and creative Taika Waititi's debut photography exhibition for Zeekr, opened to the public yesterday in Ponsonby, revealing seven cinematic worlds.
Every image in Spotlight begins the same way: in the dark. The headlights of the Zeekr 7X are the sole source of light, illuminating seven entirely different scenes. The exhibition is built on the notion that the best ideas rarely announce themselves, but can arrive uninvited and unexpected.
In an era where AI can conjure almost anything, Waititi and his creative team built the detail of each scene. The Zeekr 7X was suspended from the ceiling of Studio West, the Auckland production facility co-owned by Waititi, allowing its headlights to become the source of light to shape what the camera could see.
Across the seven images, Waititi's world takes on a distinctly different shape each time, from an alien visitation, to a warehouse rave, a bodybuilder mid-pose, a table set for a feast, a red-carpet swarm, and two diners entirely unbothered by any of it.
The seven worlds of Waititi’s Spotlight
• UFO – Off-world, electrified technology visits from the future and answers the question: are we alone, or on the cusp of discovering something more advanced than we thought possible?
• Caveman – A meeting between the primitive and the future, centred on the moment curiosity overcomes hesitation.
• Disco – Sometimes you need to destroy to build. Break something, make it better.
• Body Builder – 475 kilowatts of power that feels like playtime. Presence is felt, not just seen.
• Feast – An abundant table reflecting richness, detail with nothing has been held back.
• Paparazzi – Some things are worth every lens in the room. All eyes on the future, and the technology that drives us there.
• Sunburn – Two people who've seen enough to be unimpressed by noise, unbothered by hype.
For Waititi, having only the headlights of the Zeekr 7X to light each scene brought a unique take to the photographic process.
"The best bit about these images is we composed each scene without much at all – the spotlight, the car and single frames. From an alien abduction, to inflatable bodybuilder
companion, to sunburnt couple on the beach, it was all lit the same simple way. It forced me to be specific and single-minded about each scene," says Waititi.
Frank Li, Managing Director of Zeekr Australia and New Zealand, says the collaboration reflects Zeekr's TransTasman ambition.
"Taika is one of the most influential creative voices to emerge from New Zealand, with a body of work that resonates globally and a strong connection to audiences across both New Zealand and Australia. The collaboration reflects the confidence and ambition that sit at the heart of the Zeekr brand and demonstrates our commitment to doing things differently,” says Li.
NordEast Group General Manager Dane Fisher says Zeekr wanted a different way to introduce the 7X to a New Zealand audience.
"What I love about this project is the Zeekr 7X isn't just featured in the work, it's responsible for it. Taika has taken the vehicle’s most fundamental feature, its light, and used it to create seven completely original worlds. The result is unexpected, thought provoking and distinctly Zeekr,” says Fisher.
The approach to Spotlight reflects the role the Zeekr 7X is playing globally. Since its introduction, the 7X has become one of the brand's most significant global models, earning recognition for its combination of advanced technology, design and performance, establishing the brand as a growing force in the premium EV segment.
Spotlight by Zeekr in collaboration with Taika Waititi runs from 17–20 September 2026 at Studio 230, Ponsonby, Auckland, with free entry.
The images from Spotlight will also be available for online viewing at www.zeekrbytaika.com from 21 September 2026.
