Artists: Fiona Amundsen, Dan Arps, Nick Austin, Andrew Barber, Steve Carr, Simon Cavanough, Ruth Cleland, Shane Cotton, Martin Creed, Daniel Crooks, Luise Fong, Damien Hirst, Sara Hughes, Giovanni Intra, Christian Keinstar, Denise Kum, Tony de Lautour, Jae Hoon Lee, Daniel Malone, Richard Maloy, Peter Madden, Liz Maw, Dane Mitchell, Kate Newby, Ani O’Neill, Michael Parekowhai, Patricia Piccinini, Seraphine Pick, Peter Robinson, Joe Sheehan, Ann Shelton, Ricky Swallow, Yuk King Tan, Kathy Temin, Yvonne Todd, Francis Upritchard, Clinton Watkins.

Generation X, the demographic cohort born between 1965 and 1980, have been dubbed ‘The MTV generation’ and the ‘Forgotten generation’. Born between the Boomers and the Millennials, they were raised in an analogue world, becoming the first early adopters of the internet.

Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection includes works drawn from one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most significant contemporary art collections, the Chartwell Collection, itself a member of Gen X. Started in 1974, the Chartwell celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The works in this celebratory show burn brightly like candles on a birthday cake.

The exhibition includes a diverse range of national and international artists from Damien Hirst to Kate Newby. The artworks, made during the 90s and early 2000s, span painting, sculpture, installation, sound and video. They address concerns ranging from globalisation, capitalism and the culture wars to identity politics, third-wave feminism, and the commodification of art schools.

Featured works include the taxidermied bunnies and sparrows from Michael Parekowhai’s The Beverly Hills Gun Club, a series of wooden bird houses made by Australian artist Kathy Temin, and the dizzying pop-art floorwork The Sea by Andrew Barber. All the Things I Did by artist Richard Maloy is on display to the public for only the second time in its history. Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection also features a newly commissioned series of artworks on post-it notes by Nick Austin and features an audio guide, for those who long to hear the sound of an old internet dial up...

Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection is not an art historical document, it’s an attitude, a way of looking at the cultural contribution of an unruly group of artists who are now ‘old school.’

Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection is a City Gallery Wellington exhibition shown at Te Papa and part of the Chartwell 50th Anniversary Project 2024.

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