NZ curators to strengthen ties to Asia

11 October 2013

NZ curators to strengthen ties to Asia

Two New Zealand curators will deepen their links with Asia on tours of the region’s cutting-edge art scenes.

Auckland curator Vera Mey, and Wellington’s Emma Bugden are each participating in tailor-made programmes in Asia this month supported by Creative New Zealand and the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Mey, assistant director of AUT University’s ST PAUL St Gallery, will spend the next month in Japan, Korea and Singapore, and participate in an international curatorial workshop.

Emma Bugden, senior curator of Lower Hutt’s The Dowse Art Museum will travel to Japan, Korea and China for a three-week design-focused tour of arts institutions and events.

Creative New Zealand and Asia New Zealand Foundation have been running tours to Asia since 2010, enabling New Zealand curators to visit leading contemporary art institutions and to network with Asian artists.

In order to deepen their networks and pursue specific projects, participants from the previous tours were invited to apply to return to Asia this year.

Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Director of Culture, Jennifer King, says the previous tours have resulted in well-known Asian artists being exhibited in New Zealand. For instance, Korean artist Jaewoo Oh visited New Zealand last year after meeting Aaron Lister, curator at City Gallery Wellington, when Lister visited Korea on the 2011 Curator Tour.

“We’ve been told by the curatorial community that these tours allow them to build networks they would otherwise be unable to access,” King says.

“Both Mey and Bugden have already demonstrated commitment to building New Zealand’s art links with Asia, and it’s important they are able to sustain their connections with the region long-term. They're already working on some exciting exhibition ideas and we look forward to seeing these develop after they return from Asia.”

“This important exchange continues to strengthen New Zealand’s artistic links with Asia and to develop new relationships between artists and curators working in both territories,” says Cath Cardiff, Senior Manager, Arts Policy, Capability and International at Creative New Zealand. “We look forward to seeing these relationships and opportunities leading to a deeper understanding and for future collaborations to evolve.”

ENDS

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