24 May 2011

Te Papa is actively committed to collecting a wide range of art, and the new exhibition, Collecting Contemporary, highlights some of the contemporary art acquired between 2006 and 2011. The exhibition opens on Thursday 9 June 2011 on Level 5, Te Papa, and admission is free.  

Collecting Contemporary showcases the strength and diversity of contemporary art-making in New Zealand. The exhibition demonstrates that contemporary New Zealand artists work across a wide range of media, including painting, ceramics, sculpture, video, photography, and jewellery. A suite of short video interviews with some of the exhibiting artists will offer unique insights into the artists and their individual working practices. 

“New Zealand is known for the vitality of its contemporary art scene. As New Zealand artist Michael Parekowhai is set to wow visitors to this year’s Venice Biennale, it is very appropriate that Te Papa launches its newest art exhibition with one of his sculptures waiting to greet visitors,” said Sarah Farrar, Contemporary Art Curator, Te Papa.

The exhibition includes the work of over twenty New Zealand artists, with established names such as Bill Culbert, Warwick Freeman, John Parker and Séraphine Pick, positioned alongside rising stars Nick Austin, Simon Denny and Sriwhana Spong, among others. 

Te Papa is organising a series of artist talks about their works in the exhibition and there will be regular curator floor talks. Refer to Te Papa’s events calendar for more details: www.tepapa.govt.nz

For further information, contact: 
Roxan Mathys, Communications Assistant, 029 645 6370, 04 381 7083