July 05, 2024
Hapu backs major show for emerging artists
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Work by some of the country’s more adventurous new and established artists has gone on show in a new exhibitions at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Aotearoa Contemporary is set to be a three-yearly event in a partnership between the gallery and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
It’s been programmed alongside New Zealand’s leading contemporary arts award, the Walters Prize 2024.
Joe Pihema, the gallery’s head of kaupapa Maori, says a highlight for him is the work of Walters Prize finalist Brett Graham.
“He leads the charge from Ngati Koroki Kahukura in the Waikato so my wish would be for our people, our communities to get up to the art gallery Toi o Tamaki to look at this wonderful array of art,” he says.
The partnership with the gallery also includes a new award for an emerging Māori visual artist named after Ngati Whatua tupuna Apihai Te Kawau, with the first winner announced later this year.
Aotearoa Contemporary is also supported by Auckland Art Gallery Foundation and the Chartwell Trust and has been curated by Cameron Ah Loo-Matamua, Natasha Conland and Ane Tonga with support from Ruth Ha.
https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/whats-on/exhibition/aotearoa-contemporary#