Various Artists with Sofia & Maya

Aotearoa Contemporary is a new exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery offering a platform for new art and ideas in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Presented by Principal Partner Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the exhibition features 27 artists and 22 new compelling projects and is expected to run in conjunction with the Walters Prize every three years.

It aims to provide a platform for young, emerging, and lesser known artists to showcase what is new and current in Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse cultural environment with its dynamic history of contemporary art.

Sofia spoke to senior curator of global contemporary art at Auckland Art Gallery, Natasha Conland, and acting curator of Pacific art, Cameron Ah Loo-Matamua, about the show, its conception, and what to expect.  

Toi Whakaata / Reflections is a new exhibition celebrating Māori sculptor Fred Graham (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui). It opens at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery on Saturday 8 June.

The exhibition reflects on the artist’s career spanning 70 years, and comes at a significant moment for Graham - now 95 - who is one of the eight artists from Aotearoa who were invited to participate in the prestigious international exhibition at this year’s Venice Biennale.

Beth caught up with the curator of Toi Whakaata / Reflections, Hester Rowan, about the exhibition.

Today on Various Artists! 

Beth had a kōrero with the Curatorial Assistant at Te Uru Gallery, Hester Rowan, about Toi Whakaata / Reflections, a new exhibition of Fred Graham’s works.

Sofia had a kōrero with artist Levi Kereama about I missed you, Matariki, a new exhibition at Window Gallery with Whiro Walker.

Lots of tunes and great vibes! Whakarongo tonu mai x

Five new moving image works have launched as part of Huarere: Weather Eye, Weather Ear, Te Tuhi’s contribution to the global World Weather Network.

Curated by Janine Randerson, the screening programme features the five latest sound and video commissions created by three artists: Jae Hoon Lee, Riki Pirihi, and Tia Bennett. 

One of the projects, Tūhononga (Cluster and Connection) Parts I and II by Tia Barrett (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Te Rapuwai, Waitaha, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tamainupō) explores the pūrākau (stories) from our past which we can draw on to benefit the future of our whenua. 

Sofia spoke to Tia about Tūhononga (Cluster and Connection) as well as Huarere: Weather Eye, Weather Ear in general.