The Third NZ Jewellery Biennial: Turangawaewae: a public outing"
Dowse Art Museum
An exceptional collection of jewellery and an update on some of this country's most innovative designers. All text is in the form of artist's statements and the photography by Julia Brooke-White.
Literally tanslated, Turangawaewae means a place to stand.
Essentially, this exhibition is focused on the concept of identity, both personal and national. The identity not only of each artist, but also the viewer, and of Aotearoa itself - hence the by-line A Public Outing - substantially a play on words.
TURANGAWAEWAE is the third contemporary jewellery biennial to be initiated by the Dowse Art Museum. It differs markedly from Open Heart (1994), which encouraged artists to expand boundaries and take risks, and Same but Different (1996), which dwelt primarily with repeat production work. Both these exhibitions featured predominantly Pakeha jewellers, whereas TURANGAWAEWAE seeks to show a more diverse perspective of jewellery making in this country.
Curator Richard Bell of Ngati Maniapoto - himself a working artist - initially visited many jewellers throughout New Zealand. Bell's criteria stated that each work should aim to explore the artist's personal identity, and that juxtaposed with other pieces, would not necessarily sit comfortably, but would rather create a kind of tension which hopefully would evoke dialogue. His main objective was that artists in their multi-cultural, sexual and spiritual diversity could come together, even in their discordance, and rejoice; forming a foundation for subsequent interaction and discussion with the viewer.
TURANGAWAEWAE is not designed to be politically correct - rather to present an honest and inclusive overview of jewellery and jewellers currently working in this country. Bell's vision is that the exhibition will highlight individual diversities which contribute to the national and collective identity of the jewellery community in Aotearoa, without the restrictions of the market place - its expectations and its demands to mass produce or to compromise.
Available from
Available from Parsons Bookshop
New Gallery Building
Cnr Wellesley & Lorne Streets
Auckland
New Zealand
Ph 0064 9 303 1557
Fax 0064 9 357 0877
Price $19.95
