Collecting Contemporary: Building the National Art Collection

22 February 2012

Key works in the development of contemporary art in New Zealand feature in Te Papa’s latest edition of the Collecting Contemporary exhibition on Level 5. The three works by contemporary New Zealand artist Jim Allen were originally made in 1969 and entered Te Papa’s collection last year. Radical for their time, these works continue to challenge, excite and intrigue visitors.

Updated for the New Zealand International Arts Festival, Collecting Contemporary presents a selection of Te Papa’s most recent additions to the national art collection.

“The diversity of this group of works demonstrates the quality and range of contemporary art and design in New Zealand. We are displaying works from painting to photography, video to jewellery, and sculpture to ceramics. There is plenty to see and we’re looking forward to presenting these works to the public,” says Sarah Farrar, Te Papa’s Curator of Contemporary Art.

Artists newly featured in the exhibition include Edith Amituanai, Len Castle, Karl Fritsch, Martino Gamper, Jason Greig, Shigeyuki Kihara, Anne Noble, Lisa Reihana, Andrew Ross, Francis Upritchard and Areta Wilkinson, among others.

Visitors can also gain insight from the artists themselves though a suite of video interviews, which can be found the Collecting Contemporary website.