Kura Pounamu & Brian Brake in China 

Two Te Papa exhibitions are now on show at the National Museum of China –

Kura Pounamu: Treasured stone of Aotearoa New Zealand
Brian Brake: Lens on China and New Zealand

2012 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and New Zealand. To mark the occasion, Te Papa is delighted to partner with the National Museum of China to present two exhibitions that speak of the friendship between our two countries.

From one jade culture to another comes Kura Pounamu: Treasured stone of Aotearoa New Zealand­. For centuries, Māori have prized pounamu (New Zealand jade) as a tool, weapon, adornment, and symbol of prestige and authority. Today, this sacred stone remains an enduring cultural treasure – a sacred link to the ancestors.

Brian Brake was a New Zealand photographer who rose to international fame in the 1960s. Brian Brake: Lens on China and New Zealand is his unique view of two peoples at the same moment in time. We are privileged to exhibit – for the first time in China – his iconic images of life in the People’s Republic during its first decade.

We look forward to hosting a touring exhibition from the National Museum of China in 2014 – a celebration of thousands of years of Chinese civilisation.

今年恰逢中国和新西兰建交四十周年，值此之际，新西兰国家博物馆很高兴能和中国国家博物馆合作推出这两个展览，来表达和增进中新两国间的友谊。

《毛利碧玉：新西兰的传世珍宝》展可谓是将一个玉文化带到另一个有玉文化传统的国家。数世纪以来，毛利人一直视新西兰碧玉为珍宝，用碧玉制作工具、武器、饰品，并将其作为声望和权力的象征。今天，这种神圣的碧玉石仍然是新西兰不朽的文化瑰宝，是与其祖先建立神圣联结的载体。

布莱恩·布瑞克是20世纪60年代蜚声国际的新西兰摄影师。《布莱恩·布瑞克：镜头里的中国和新西兰》用独特的视角记录同一时代下的两个不同民族。我们很荣幸能在中国首次展出他于新中国建国最初十年间所拍摄的珍贵生活照片。

新西兰国家博物馆欢迎大家来参观我们的珍藏。正如这些展品所展示的，我们两个民族间的有着很深厚的联系。而两个国家博物馆间的联系也正在日益增强。我们非常期待中国国家博物馆2014年到新西兰来展示源远流长的中华文明。

Kura Pounamu: Treasured stone of Aotearoa New Zealand

Brian Brake: Lens on China and New Zealand

Acknowledgments

The exhibitions were jointly developed by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the National Museum of China.

展览由新西兰国家博物馆和中国国家博物馆共同推出

With the support of the New Zealand Government through Manatū Taonga – Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s Cultural and Diplomacy International Programme.

受新西兰政府文化遗产部国际文化项目赞助

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa gratefully acknowledges Wai-man Lau’s gift of the Brian Brake Collection in 2001.

新西兰国家博物馆对刘惠文捐赠布莱恩·布瑞克作品集表示衷心感谢。

Sponsor of Museum of New Zealand exhibitions in China
特别鸣谢中国南方航空股份有限公司

Image and exhibition credits

Exhbitions were jointly developed by National Museum of China and National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Te Papa gratefully acknowledges the gift of the Brian Brake Collection by Wai-man Lau.

• Parade for the 10th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, 1959, by Brian Brake. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• Hei tiki (pendant in human form). Gift of Leo Buller, 1911. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa