As part of the celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, two Te Papa exhibitions will be heading to the National Museum of China in Beijing in November 2012.
“The exhibitions Brian Brake: Lens on China and Kura Pounamu: Treasured stone of Aotearoa New Zealand will deepen the cultural connections and understanding between our two nations,” says Michael Houlihan, Te Papa Chief Executive.
“It is an exciting opportunity to share the stories behind some of New Zealand’s most significant cultural treasures.”
Kura Pounamu: Treasured stone of Aotearoa New Zealand explores the powerful role pounamu plays in affirming and building a variety of relationships – from the personal to the political – in showcasing traditional and contemporary pounamu taonga, including hei tiki (pendants in human form), adornments such as ear pendants and necklaces, tools for carving (adzes and chisels) and mere pounamu (nephrite weapons). The exhibition also explores the properties of this stone which is unique New Zealand.
Brian Brake: Lens on China and New Zealand contrasts the photographs that Brake took in 1960 for New Zealand: Gift of the Sea with his images of China, taken shortly before. These were periods of change for both countries. During his visits to China in 1957, and again in 1959, he captured the spectacles of mass parades in Beijing. In 1960, he toured New Zealand, the land of his birth, where the magnificent mountain scenery drew his eye. Placing the photographs together shows the huge differences between the two countries. But what the photographs also have in common is that they capture the same moment in time – a moment that is long past and entirely unknown by young people today.
The exhibitions were developed jointly by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the National Museum of China with the support of the New Zealand Government through Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Cultural Diplomacy International Programme.
Te Papa gratefully acknowledges the gift of the Brian Brake Collection by Wai-man Lau.
Contemporary New Zealand Art Heading to Shanghai
In addition Te Papa is delighted to announce that it has been invited to contribute a selection of contemporary New Zealand art as part of a major international art exhibition for the reopening of the Shanghai Art Museum, China, in October 2012.
Meridian Lines: Contemporary art from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa showcases works by renowned contemporary New Zealand artists Bill Hammond, Ralph Hotere, Ani O’Neill, Michael Parekowhai, John Pule, Yuk King Tan, and Gordon Walters.
‘This is an incredible opportunity to present contemporary New Zealand art to Chinese and international audiences,’ says Te Papa’s Curator of Contemporary Art Sarah Farrar. ‘The reopening of the Shanghai Art Museum is a much anticipated event in China, and it is timed to coincide with the 2012 Shanghai Biennale, a high-profile contemporary art exhibition in China.’
Other international museums invited to participate include the British Museum, Kitano Museum of Art, and Maison de Victor Hugo in Paris, among others.
In this auspicious year – the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China – Te Papa and the Shanghai Art Museum are strengthening the bonds of friendship and culture.
For further information and images, contact:
Roxan Mathys, Manager Communications (Acting), 029 601 0180, 04 381 7083, [email protected]
