Arranging Nature

The natural world of Aotearoa New Zealand was full of wonder for European immigrants.

As they encountered things that were strange to them, they arranged them to fit with their ideas about organising the world.

Artists and makers captured the beauty of what was ‘discovered’ in paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs.

This exhibition features works by artists and photographers including George Vernon Hudson, Nancy Adams, John Buchanan, Sarah Featon, Herbert Dobbie, and Ayesha Green.

***

I mīharo ngā manene o Ūropi ki te ao tūroa o Aotearoa.

Nō te kitenga atu o ngā mea tauhou, ka tahuri rātou ki te tātai haere i aua mea e hāngai ana ki ō rātou ake whakaaro e pā ana ki te hanga o te ao.

Kua hopukina te ātaahua o ō rātou ‘kitenga hou’ e ngā ringatoi, me ngā kaihanga, ki roto i ngā mahi peita, i ngā tuhinga, i ngā mātātuhi, me ngā whakaahua.

When | Āhea 23 Sep 2023 – mid 2024
Where | Ki hea Toi Art, Level 5
Cost | Te utu Free entry
Accessibility | E wātea ana ki
- Wheelchair accessible
- Low lighting
- Soundspill from nearby galleries
- Audio guide with transcripts
Find out more about accessibility at Te Papa

1/10

Interior of the Colonial Museum, Wellington, about 1900, photographer unknown, inkjet display print from original gelatin glass negative. Te Papa (MA_B.011506)
2/10

Moa bones, about 1882, Burton Brothers Studio, inkjet display print from original collodion glass negative. Te Papa (C.014976)
3/10

George V Hudson, Illustrations for plates XLII from The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand, about 1927, watercolour. Bequest of G V Hudson, 1946. Te Papa (1992‑0035‑2333)
4/10

Drawer of miscellaneous specimens (E29–D16). Bequest of G V Hudson, 1946. Te Papa
5/10

John Buchanan, Fossil plant specimens, Upper Jurassic, Mataura, about 1864, watercolour, ink, pencil. Te Papa (1992‑0035‑2279/83)
6/10

Ayesha Green, Fossils (Things in the ground), 2019, acrylic on board. Te Papa (2020-0004-3)
7/10

Sarah Featon, Hīnau, Elœocarpus dentatus; rauhuia, New Zealand linen flax, Linum monogynum, about 1885, watercolour, chromolithograph. Te Papa (1992‑0035‑2277/77)
8/10

Nancy Adams, Geranium, Pelargonium; nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus; flame vine, Tropaeolum speciosum, 1970s, watercolour. Te Papa (CA000888/052/0001)
9/10

Ayesha Green, Wild flowers (Things that grow), 2019, acrylic on board. Te Papa (2020-0004-2)
10/10

Unknown photographer, Untitled [fern photograph], 1860s–1890s, photogram, salted paper print. Te Papa (O.036771)