Toi Aotearoa

Michael Parekowhai, The Indefinite Article, 1990 (centre) and John Reynolds, Sun Tree Beginning, 1993 (far right)

Michael Parekowhai, The Indefinite Article, 1990 (centre), in Toi Aotearoa

Toi Aotearoa

Where

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
When

3 September 2011 - 31 August 2014

Toi Aotearoa spanned centuries of New Zealand’s art history, considering art from the 1700s till the present day. By blending contemporary artists with earlier well-known modernist painters, and artworks from early European contact with Aotearoa, the exhibition considered the legacy of New Zealand’s unique art-historical canon and its impact on today’s contemporary artists.

A diverse range of artworks from the Chartwell Collection contributed to the exhibition, including pieces from early influencers such as Theo Schoon’s Maori Pattern (1962) and Colin McCahon’s May His Light Shine (Tau Cross) (1978-79) to Fiona Connor’s contemporary work A section of Something Transparent (please go round the back) (2009) and Michael Parekowhai’s McCahon-inspired work The Indefinite Article (1990).

Curated by Ron Brownson, Ngahiraka Mason and Natasha Conland.

Installation Images

One of the ground floor galleries at Auckland Art Gallery is depicted. In the centre of the room large white three-dimensional lettering spells out 'I AM HE'. To the left hangs a red and blue work which reads '1/2 price cash only' on loose canvas. Above it, multiple identical signs bearing the letter 'O' are hung together on an angle. On the right wall hangs a pink and orange work with a smaller blue and yellow work next to it, and in the top right hand corner is a cluster of pink squiggly acrylic shapes.

Michael Parekowhai, The Indefinite Article, 1990 (centre) and John Reynolds, Sun Tree Beginning, 1993 (far right), Chartwell Collection.

One of the ground floor galleries at Auckland Art Gallery is depicted. On the left wall hangs a red and blue work which reads '1/2 price cash only' on loose canvas. Above it, multiple identical signs bearing the letter 'O' are hung together on an angle. A tall doorway to the right of these works looks into the adjoining galleries.

Julian Dashper, The Scream, 1991-93 (pictured top) and Billy Apple, Cash Only 1/2 Price, 1984-1990 (centre), Chartwell Collection.

One of the ground floor galleries at Auckland Art Gallery is depicted. On the right hand wall hangs a large pink and orange canvas with a spindly tree painted onto it. To its right hangs a narrow figurative painting depicting suburban scenes. In the corner of the room, a salmon pink circular mattress is half propped up against the wall. On the right hand wall, above the mattress hangs a man's suit with sharp studs all over it. On the far right hangs a large framed painting depicting a tree.

John Reynolds, Sun Tree Beginning, 1993 (far left) and Giovanni Intra, Untitled (Studded Suit), 1990 (pictured top, second from right), Chartwell Collection.