ExhibitionsClosed

Alexis Hunter: The model’s revengeAlexis Hunter: Te utu a te wahine

Gender, sexuality, and power – the 1970s photographs of this feminist artist have been described as ‘icons of fearlessness for women’.

When | Āhea

31 Aug 2016 – 26 Feb 2017

Where | Ki hea

Level 5

Cost | Te utu

Free exhibition

Ages | TE REANGA

All ages

Accessibility | E wātea ana ki

Wheelchair accessible

Find out more about accessibility at Te Papa

The photographs on display by New Zealand artist Alexis Hunter (1948–2014), address gender politics, sexuality, and power dynamics.

Hunter originally trained as a painter, but switched to photography shortly after she moved to London in 1972: ‘I felt very strongly about feminism and photography better expressed my political ideals.’

Alexis Hunter, *Untitled. From the Object Series*, 1974-75. Black and white photograph, gelatin silver print. Purchased 2008 (O.031448).
‘Depersonalised’ is how Alexis Hunter described the models in *Untitled. From the Object Series*. ‘They become a body not a person, and then just an image not an image of a person.’
Viewers in the 1970s were surprised to discover that *The Object Series* was by a woman artist. Photographers were then assumed to be men, and sexualised images were usually of women. Hunter observed that her photographs were consequently seen as ‘more sexy – and strangely colder’.
These works toured in 2007 as part of *WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution*, a major international exhibition of feminist art. Today, Hunter’s works, and other feminist art of the 1970s, are again receiving attention.

Alexis Hunter, *Untitled. From the Object Series*, 1974-75. Black and white photograph, gelatin silver print. Purchased 2008 (O.031444).

Alexis Hunter, *The model’s revenge no.1*, 1974. Black and white photograph, gelatin silver print. Purchased 2016. Te Papa (O.044640)

Alexis Hunter, *Approach to fear III: Taboo - demystify*, 1976. Black and white photograph, gelatin silver print. Purchased 2008. Te Papa (O.031419/A-T to T-T)

Alexis Hunter, *Approach to fear XIX: Voyeurism - exposure*, 1978. Black and white photograph, gelatin silver print. Purchased 2016. Te Papa (O.044641/A-T to T-T)

Discover moreKia kitea ake

Filmic imaginaries: Jacqueline Fraser and Tracey Moffatt
Jacqueline Fraser and Tracey Moffatt use popular culture, particularly that of cinematic film, to move their work into the realm of the creative imaginary.
Closed
31 Aug 2016 – 26 Feb 2017
Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga
Māori minimalism and international influence
The works of pioneering Māori artist Ralph Hotere, American minimalist artist Ad Reinhardt, and Māori minimalist sculptor Matt Pine are brought together in a surprising conversation.
Closed
31 Aug 2016 – 26 Feb 2017
Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga
Toi Art
Fresh takes and new favourites. You’ll find them in Toi Art.
Toi Art opened again on Saturday 14 June, with more opening up at the end of June – see what’s coming up!
On now
Sat 14 Jun
Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga