Exhibitions On now

View of a gallery space. It is dimly lit. In the foreground hangs large pieces of kelp lit by a rainbow of neon lighting. In the background, projected onto the wall, is a video work comprising of many ceramic pots housing plants the are outgrowing them

Te Mata Tūroa o Papa This Natural World

Kua āhua mai ēnei mahi toi i te takoto me ngā tauira o te mata tūroa o Papatūānuku. Kua āta titiro ngā ringatoi, me ngā kaihanga, ki te taiao, ā, kua kitea te rerehua me ngā tini painga o te ao tūroa.

E whakatauira ana tēnei whakaaturanga i te āhua o te mahi ngātahi a te ringatoi, a te kaihanga hoki ki te taiao – kua tīkina atu ngā āhua me ngā rawa o te ao tūroa hei taura here ki ngā momo mātauranga, me ngā kōrero o te taiao e karapoti nei i a tātou.

***

The natural world’s forms and rhythms have shaped these artworks. The artists and makers pay close attention to their surroundings, finding beauty and usefulness in nature.

This exhibition demonstrates how artists and makers work with nature – using forms and materials to connect with knowledge and stories held in the natural world around us.

  • 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
    • One video with ambient soundscape and some flickering light
    • Seating in front of video
    • One large work with components hanging from roof to floor, without barriers
    • Low barriers around some art works
    • Smell of dried seaweed used in one artwork
    • Audio guide with transcripts

    Find out more about accessibility at Te Papa

This Natural World features the following artists:

  • Raewyn Atkinson
  • Chris Charteris
  • Karl Fritsch
  • Eléna Gee
  • Christine Hellyar
  • Kauae Raro Research Collective
  • Alan Preston
  • Joe Sheehan
  • Te Aue Takotoroa Davis
  • General view of the This Natural World exhibition, with a small display case at the front, a large one at the back displaying three large Māori cloaks, and to the left of that an artwork consisting of hanging pieces of kelp and neon lights
    1/5

    This Natural World exhibition view, showing three rain capes (a hieke by Te Aue Takotoroa Davis, a whakatipu, and a kahu tōī), Karl Fritsch’s Kelp, 2023 in the background, and a case of Kauae Raro Research Collective’s whenua pigments, 2023. Te Papa (236085)

  • 47 shells lined up in a single line, each with a silver pin sticking out the bottom, like lollipop sticks
    2/5

    Alan Preston, Black Foreshore, 2004, shell shards, silver pin, glue. Te Papa (2013-0001-2/AA to BV)

  • An array of ceramics of all sizes resembling leaves, assembled together on a wall in a pattern that loosely resembles a bird in flight
    3/5

    Christine Hellyar, Fluttering and settling, 1991, white earthenware, staining, casting from moulds, copper electro-plating. Commissioned 1991, in partnership with Expo NZ 1992 Ltd and the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand. Te Papa (1996-0033-22/AA to FH)

  • View of a gallery space. It is dimly lit. In the foreground hangs large pieces of kelp lit by a rainbow of neon lighting. In the background, projected onto the wall, is a video work comprising of many ceramic pots housing plants the are outgrowing them
    4/5

    This Natural World exhibition view, showing part of Karl Fritsch’s Kelp, 2023 and Raewyn Atkinson’s I too am in Paradise II, 2018 projected onto the wall accompanied by the artist’s Urn and base, 2023. Te Papa (236088)

  • A display case full of brightly coloured pigments of earth from deep red through to blue, housed in shells, or in little mounds
    5/5

    A collection of whenua (earth) pigments by Kauae Raro Research Collective, 2023. Te Papa

Get our newsletter

Stay in the loop about our wide range of events and exhibitions.

Register

Follow us

Follow our social media channels for a glimpse behind the scenes at Te Papa.

Join Friends of Te Papa

Friends enjoy benefits and discounts including invitations to previews and private viewings.

Join

Donate

Find out how you can support Te Papa through a donation or bequest by becoming a patron.

Donate