Various Artists with Sofia & Maya

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. 

Beth had a kōrero with Anthony about Ruminations. 

Having it All, All, All is 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.