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!
Chaos Magic is an exhibition by Matt Joils currently on at Window Gallery. Based in Tāmaki, Joils is a painter whose works draw from visual elements found organically online and graphic design in the urban wild.
In response to Mark Fisher’s publication ‘Capitalist Realism’, the exhibition consists of a series of a small-scale abstract painting installation and a large depiction of Garfield.
Sofia spoke to Matt about his practice and the exhibition, on until October 18th.
Through the Lens: Gendered Reflections is an exhibition of photography by women artists, spanning a period of over 40 years.
The collection includes visual works by alumni of the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, including Yvonne Todd, Lisa Reihana, Marti Friedlander, Ann Shelton and Fiona Pardington. The works highlight the seminal role that women have played in the evolution of photography in Aotearoa.
Beth spoke to Ross Deans, Jodie Yawa McMillan and Madi Macdonald about the exhibition and curatorial process.
RSVP to a special preview of Gendered Reflections at Old Government House on October 2nd, 5:30pm: through.the.lens.exhibition@gmail.com.
Sofia had a kōrero with co-curator, Dr Jane Davidson-Ladd, about Ngā Taonga Tūturu: Treasured Māori Portraits, a new exhibition showing at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. The exhibition brings together whakairo and oil paintings from the gallery’s collection, offering insights into the significance of tūpuna representations within te ao Māori.
Beth spoke with Ross Deans, Jodie Yawa McMillan and Madi Macdonald about Through the Lens: Gendered Reflections, an exhibition of photography by women artists spanning a period of over 40 years including works by alumni of the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau.
Sofia had a kōrero with Matt Joils about his exhibition, Chaos Magic, currently showing at Window Gallery. In response to Mark Fisher’s publication ‘Capitalist Realism’, the exhibition consists of a series of a small-scale abstract painting installation and a large depiction of Garfield.
For Stage Direction, Alice Canton and Rutene Spooner join Beth in-studio to chat about Be Like Billy, a show on at Te Pou Theatre as a part of Kōanga Festival. Tickets through Te Pou’s website..
And, as always, they round off the show with your weekly Arts Guide, keeping you up-to-date with all the must-see artsy goings-on in Tāmaki.
Sofia had a kōrero with artist Fiona Jack about Public Clay, an exhibition of hers currently on at Melanie Roger Gallery.
Beth had a kōrero with artist Tia Ansell about her exhibition Building Patterns, currently showing at Suite Gallery.
Sofia also spoke with the director of Show Me Shorts Film Festival, Gina Dellabarca, about the programme this year.
Beth had a kōrero with artist Otis Frizzell about his and Mike Weston’s exhibition, Identity Crisis.
And for Stage Direction this week: Alice Canton is in to chat with Freya Silas Finch about A Slow Burlesque, on at Basement Theatre from the 3rd to 19th October.
Public Clay is an exhibition by Fiona Jack currently on at Melanie Roger Gallery.
Fiona Jack is a conceptual artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau where she is the Head of School at Te Waka Tūhura Elam School of Fine Art at Waipapa Taumata Rau the University of Auckland.
As Jack’s first solo exhibition with Melanie Roger Gallery, the exhibition presents a new series of ‘earth posters’ made in collaboration with Naarm/Melbourne-based poet, Sholto Buck, as well as a new collaborative work with Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist, Elizabeth Pointon.
Sofia spoke to Fiona about this exhibition, her practice, and these collaborative projects.
Show Me Shorts Film Festival is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading international short film festival.
With its mission to connect New Zealand audiences with short films, the festival brings together 126 screenings of 85 short films at 40 cinema venues across Aotearoa this year.
Sofia spoke with the Festival Director, Gina Dellabarca, about the programme for this year.
Identity Crisis is a collaborative exhibition by artists Otis Frizzell and Mike Weston showing at Eyes on Fire Gallery till Monday. Otis Frizzell was renowned in the nineties for being one half of the hip hop duo MCOJ Rhythm Slave.
Otis and Mike are renowned for the pop art works, most notably their Jacinda Ardern ‘Aroha’ screen print that pays homage to one of the most famous Obama ‘Hope’ print.
Beth caught up with him this abouthim about Identity Crisis and the evolution of his pop art over the past twenty years.
Building Patterns is a new exhibition by artist Tia Ansell. Tia weaves patterns to explore the language of abstraction, symbolism, material culture and architectural structures.
Tia emphasises the influence of these textile patterns, referencing geometric shapes on facades of high-rise buildings.
Beth had a kōrero with Tia about Building Patterns and the creative properties of weaving.
Sofia spoke with artist Séraphine Pick about her exhibition Rider Instinct currently on at Te Uru Gallery. With several of the works exhibited with ceramic components and found objects, Rider Instinct brings together selected works from Pick’s practice: works on paper and her ‘combined paintings’.
Beth had a chat with artist and weaver Ngaroma Riley about her exhibition Once Were Gardners showing at Season Gallery. It comprises a group of painted carvings that draw inspiration from a lecture of the same name by the late Moana Jackson.
And for Stage Direction today, Alice Canton chats to Oli Mathieson and Paige Downard from Black Grace about the show, The Next Wave, on at the Herald Theatre.
To round off the show, we have your weekly Arts Guide!
Once Were Gardeners is an exhibition by artist and carver Ngaroma Riley, currently showing at Season Gallery. It comprises a group of painted carvings that draw inspiration from a lecture of the same name by the late Moana Jackson.
The carvings reflect on and celebrate precolonial Māori life, and emphasise the fact that a core meaning of the term Māori is ‘natural’.
Beth had a kōrero with Ngaroma about Once Were Gardeners and the carving process.
Mayen Mehta and Ryan O'Kane from Auckland Theatre Company joined Sofia in the studio to chat about Murder on the Orient Express, on at ASB Waterfront Theatre 22 April - 10 May.
John Davies joined Sofia and Beth in studio to chat about Te Tupua - The Goblin, a solo play written and performed by Davies himself. Tickets for tonight's show at Te Pou Theatre here.
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.