Capital's Koru Lounge Celebrates Nz Art

Monday May 24

Capital's Koru Lounge Celebrates Nz Contemporary Art

Air New Zealand has transformed its busy Wellington Koru Lounge into a visual feast with today's launch of a managed art programme for Wellington.

John Daly-Peoples, highly respected art critic and advocate for the arts, has selected a special exhibition for the Wellington Koru Lounge in conjunction with one of the city's most established fine art dealers, the Tinakori Gallery.

This first collection of artworks, which will stay in the Wellington Koru Lounge for four months, features works by Eugene Kara, Randal Leach, Aimee Ratana, Simon Kaan, Ben Clarke, Matthew Browne and Lorraine Rastorfer.

Air New Zealand's Koru Lounge in the capital is used by 370,000 customers per year, providing a significantly higher potential viewing audience than a traditional art gallery.

The Wellington launch follows last year's establishment of a managed art programme by Mr Daly-Peoples in the Air New Zealand Auckland Koru Lounge. Now in its third cycle as a revolving exhibition space, this artistic initiative has been warmly received by customers.

By opening up the Koru Lounges as a creative environment , Mr Daly-Peoples believes artists get the opportunity to have their work seen by a wider range of people.

His views are echoed by founding Chief Executive of Te Papa Dame Cheryll Sotheran, currently Senior Director Creative with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, who welcomed the revolving exhibition concept for the capital.

"This is an outstanding opportunity to showcase our distinctive visual culture to a very sizeable, and largely new audience," she said.

"It's also a great example of a major New Zealand business thinking creatively about giving our art a deservedly high profile in a location that will deliver high national and international exposure. The growing perception that New Zealand is a nation that runs on creativity and innovation can only be enhanced by the commitment that Air New Zealand has made to the exhibition of New Zealand art."

The managed art programme underlines Air New Zealand's strategy of showcasing the best of New Zealand food, wine, creative talent and service.

ENDS

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