Te Ahikāroa

On Saturday 28th March, Te Ahikāroa – Artists & Stories of Dunedin Public Art Galleryopens to the public. Accompanied by a significant new book of the same name, Te Ahikāroa celebrates art and artists, the many paths that have brought their work to Ōtepoti Dunedin, and the possibilities that emerge when art, ideas and people come together.

As a richly illustrated book bringing together over 200 artworks, Te Ahikāroa is the result of collaboration between the Gallery, mana whenua and other writers from around Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. These texts place Kāi Tahu values in relation to the journey of the Gallery since its establishment in 1884, they explore the history and vision of the Gallery, and they bring new perspectives and expertise to individual artworks.

To celebrate the launch of the exhibition and book, please join us for two free events that will be held on Saturday 28th March:
11am: Exhibition walkthrough
A tour with DPAG Curators and artists Neil Pardington (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Pākehā), Kate Fitzharris and Ani O’Neill. DPAG Curators will share an overview on the themes, and ambitions of the publication and exhibition, and each artist will share insights on their artworks within the exhibition.
1pm: Talk with Dr Anya Samarasinghe
An illustrated presentation on selected historical artworks held in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery collection and depicted within the book, Te Ahikāroa. Along with curating the exhibition Paradise of Imagination: Modern & Medieval Encounters, Anya made significant research and written contributions to Te Ahikāroa during her internship with the Gallery. This presentation will dive into the intersections between selected historical artworks from Dunedin Public Art Gallery, and wider historical artworks across Aotearoa New Zealand’s public collections. 

Noho ora mai
Lauren Gutsell
Kairauhī Curator
Dunedin Public Art Gallery

[above: RALPH HOTERE and BILL CULBERT P.R.O.P. 1991 (detail). Corrugated iron and neon tube lights. Collection Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Reproduced by permission of the Hotere Foundation Trust and the Bill & Pip Culbert Trust]