New Zealand Contemporary Art Turangawaewae

5 June 2006

New Zealand Contemporary Art Turangawaewae: A Place To Stand

A slice through Aotearoa-New Zealand contemporary art practice.

In her fifth journey as guest editor of Artlink, Adelaide-based writer, critic and artist Stephanie Radok uncovers a cross-section of contemporary art practice in Aotearoa-New Zealand, exposing it as “savvy and raw, smart and lyrical.”

To be launched at the Sydney Biennale Symposium on June 9 followed by Auckland’s ARTSPACE on June 12, Turangawaewae: A place to stand considers the contemporary art of our Pacific neighbour from the perspectives of contributing New Zealand artists, arts writers and arts administrators including Christina Barton, Natasha Conland and Andrew Paul Wood.

It examines the current state of contemporary art and regionalism, features the striking work of artist Shane Cotton, considers art in public space through the SCAPE 2006 Biennial, and so much more. A showcase of artist run initiatives including Special, Blue Oyster and High St highlights cutting edge, up-to-the-moment art practices.

Including an interview with new ARTSPACE Director Brian Butler and a revealing bonus interview with University at Buffalo Professor and Critical Art Ensemble member Steve Kurtz, along with Artlink’s regular reviews and columns, this is the first special issue of an overseas art magazine dedicated to the art of New Zealand.

“New Zealand has crept up on me as a site of art over many years,“ writes Radok, “A great deal of art made in New Zealand was and is about that place, using the several languages of the cultures that inhabit it as well as developing new ones. A lot of it is also about art making and the art world, art myths and art strategies.”

Sydney Launch Details Speaker: Chris Saines, Director Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki Date: Friday 9 June, 2:30pm Location: Foyer outside Domain Theatre/Yiribana Gallery, Art Gallery of New South Wales during 15th Biennale of Sydney Symposium Afternoon tea and subscription specials, all welcome, free entry to symposium

Auckland Launch Details Speaker: Natasha Conland, Curator Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki Date: Monday 12 June 2006, 6:30pm Location: ARTSPACE, Level 1, 300 Karangahape Rd, Auckland Refreshments, free entry # # #

Established for more than 24 years, Artlink – Australia’s leading contemporary art quarterly – is a themed magazine focused on contemporary art in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Artlink is generously supported by the Visual Arts & Crafts Strategy through the Australia Council and Arts SA. Many thanks to Creative New Zealand for their support of this issue. For more information please visit

http://www.artlink.com.au.

ENDS

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