Join Sofia Roger Williams and Beth Torrance-Hetherington for kōrero with artists and creative types from the wide art world of Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond!
Beth had a kōrero with Tāmaki Makaurau-based poet Amy Marguerite about her debut poetry collection, over under fed, out now via Auckland University Press.
She also spoke with Pōneke-based poet Gregory Kan about his new poetry collection, Clay Eaters, out now via Auckland University Press, also.
Sofia had a kōrero with Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Wikimedian in Residence, Anjuli Selvadurai, about the Wiki 101 Edit-a-thon tomorrow.
And Beth also had a kōrero with the Artistic Director of the Auckland Writers Festival for 2025, Lyndsey Fineran, about the programme this year.
And for Stage Direction this week, Ngahiriwa Rauhina joined Alice Canton in the studio to speak about ration the Queens veges currently on at Te Pou Theatre.
Wikipedia is one of the world’s most accessed sources of information, however, many local histories, marginalised communities, and diverse voices remain underrepresented.
By contributing to Wikipedia, Auckland Museum’s Wikimedian in Residence, Anjuli Sel-va-durai, aims to democratise access to knowledge and ensure more accurate, balanced and inclusive narratives about Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa, making important histories more visible and accessible to all.
Sofia spoke to Anjuli about her role and the importance of contributing to Wikipedia.
The Wiki 101 Edit-a-thon is on tomorrow, Saturday 15th March, at Auckland Museum in the Research Library on Level 2 from 10am-2pm.
Ruminations: Encrypting My Mother Tongue is a new exhibition by artist Anthony Zemke showing as part of the Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival. It is a ‘visual exploration of the struggle faced by diasporic and mixed-race individuals to connect with a mother tongue they may never know’ (Auckland Arts Festival).
The exhibition runs through the festival of Naw-Rúz (Nowruz) which is celebrated as a time of renewal, reconnection and reflection by Iranians, Baháʼís, and various other communities.
The series of paintings and drawings aim to transform feelings of shame and guilt into celebrations of heritage and belonging through calligraphic abstraction.
Sofia had a kōrero with curator of contemporary art at Gus Fisher Gallery, Lisa Beauchamp, about Having It All, All, All - a new exhibition bringing together international artists whose work has been pivotal for the re-evaluation of female subjectivity in art.
Beth had a kōrero with artist Anthony Zemke about his new exhibition, Ruminations: Encrypting My Mother Tongue, currently showing at Studio One Toi Tū.
And for Stage Direction this week, Brynley Stent joined Alice Canton in the studio to speak about Frigidton!
Having it All, All, Allis a new group exhibition at Gus Fisher Gallery composed of nine international artists whose work has been pivotal in the reimagination of female subjectivity in art.
The exhibition is showing select video and performance art by the likes of Ana Mendieta (Cuba/USA), Yoko Ono (Japan/USA), Howardena Pindell (USA), Pipilotti Rist (Switzerland), Martha Rosler (USA), Christa Schadt (Canada), Janice Tanaka (USA), Hannah Wilke (USA), and Nil Yalter (Turkey/France).
Spanning the 1960s to 1990s, Having it All, All, All delves into the activism and identity politics associated with Second Wave Feminism and its critics.
Sofia spoke to curator of contemporary art at Gus Fisher Gallery, Lisa Beauchamp, about the exhibition, her curation process, and the impact of these works on feminist politics as seen through a contemporary perspective.
Soft Spot is a new group exhibition showing Claudia Kogachi, Erica Van Zon, and Ming Ranginui at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery.
Through their respective practices, Kogachi, Van Zon, and Ranginui engage with the home conceptually and formally, depicting household items and activities while working with craft modes often associated with domestic furnishings such as rug making, carpentry, and needlework.
Sofia spoke with curator of Soft Spot, Hester Rowan, about the exhibition, her curation process, and the themes of Soft Spot.
Sofia had a kōrero with the Assistant Curator at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery, Hester Rowan, about Soft Spot - a new group exhibition showing Claudia Kogachi, Ming Ranginui, and Erica van Zon.
Beth spoke with artists and siblings Oscar and Sophie Bannan about Chicken Poems, a new body of collaborative and parallel work opening today at Gus Fisher Gallery.
And for Stage Direction this week, Ahi Karunaharan joined Beth and Sofia in the studio to speak about a mixtape for maladies.
Chicken Poems is a a new body of collaborative and parallel work by artists and siblings Oscar and Sophie Bannan. The exhibition includes collage, photography, video and sculpture.
Artnow writes that ‘each work is conceived as a visual poem that explores radical intimacies with time, and the creation of meaning through image/object relationships. Thematically, their work explores rhythms of living such as cooking and food, domestic chores, personal ritual, familial and romantic relationships’.
For the exhibition, Sophie and Oscar have made a moving image work using existing dance films made of and by the siblings over the past thirty years.
Beth had a kōrero with Oscar and Sophie about Chicken Poems, which is showing at the Gus Fisher Gallery until the 10th of May.
Swan Crash is an new exhibition by artist Tony Guo at Season Gallery Aotearoa.
Guo is a painter born in Aotearoa New Zealand who grew up in Northeast China and moved to Tāmaki Makaurau in 2012.
Although informed by particular experiences and histories connecting back to his parents’ and grandparents’ experiences in northeastern China in the 20th century and his queerness, Guo’s works invite shifting and multiple interpretations.
Sofia spoke to Guo about his artistic practice, the ideas within his works, and his process.
Launched in 2016 by writer Peter Wells, the goal for the festival is to be ‘an exciting event that makes people think about sexuality, difference and community, stretches their understanding, gives them a few laughs and creates a slightly magic space for two days in February’.
Pip Adam, author of Ockham-nominated novel Audition (2023), and Nathan Joe, award-winning theatre-maker and performance poet, are both board members of Samesame but different.
Beth caught up with Pip and Nathan about the festival this year
Ahi Karunaharan joined Beth and Sofia in the studio to talk about a mixtape for maladies, the final chapter of Karunaharan's trilogy. The play tells the story of 17 nostalgic pop tracks which chart the deeply moving journey of Sangeetha and her family in 1950s Sri Lanka. a mixtape for maladies is on at ASB Waterfront Theatre from the 4th March. You can get your tickets here.
Alice Canton spoke to artistic director of Auckland Arts Festival, Bernie Haldane, about the programme this year. The festival is running from 6-23 March. More info here!
Brady Peeti (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Maniapoto) joined Sofia in the studio to speak about "What Happened to Mary-Anne?" - a story of trans woman Mary-Anne and her insatiable adoration for the power of rock. The show is on at the Q Theatre Loft from 11th-15th February. You can get your tickets here!
For Stage Direction this week, Xin Ji joins Beth in the studio to discuss Body Story which is a physical dance theatre piece, as well as his debut solo show. Body Story is on at Q Theatre from the 18th-22nd February as part of Auckland Pride Festival. Tickets from Q Theatre’s website.
Jonjon Tolovae, Nikadrian Peters, and Lijah Mavaega spoke to Sofia and Beth about Mā: a devised theatre and performance poetry work that delves into themes of chosen family, motherhood, and identity coming up at Q Theatre as a part of Auckland Pride Festival.
For Stage Direction this week, Alice Canton joined us in the studio to speak with some of the organisers of the Festival of Sumud at the Button Factory - brought to you by the organisers of the Gaza Dialogues and Make art not War.
For Stage Direction this week, Alice Canton joins Beth in the studio to chat with Andrew Paterson and Jack Buchanan about Don Juan (A Slightly Isolated Dog) at Q Theatre.
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