TALKS PROGRAMME 2021
At the Fair a series of three panel discussions took place, designed to stimulate public debate in the framework of the Art Fair.
Considering the unique position of Aotearoa as a place for contemporary art production, local and international artists, writers and cultural actors discussed thought-provoking questions, each drawing from their personal knowledge and lived experience rather than putting forward a theoretical approach.
A Base of People was curated by Remco de Blaaij (Director of Artspace Aotearoa) on behalf of Ngātahi (a collaboration between Auckland arts organisations Artspace Aotearoa, Gus Fisher Gallery, Objectspace, ST PAUL St Gallery, Te Tuhi and Te Uru) and supported by Creative New Zealand.
The talks were recorded and are available to watch below.
Parallel Worlds, a new imagination on internationality
If we think about international links, what is the imagination of Aotearoa in the rest of the world, and what is now expected from a diverse range of practices and knowledge coming out of Aotearoa? What are the demands put on Indigenous work, both by public organisations, as well as by individual collectors? What is needed to provide more manaakitanga for these works in frameworks that are seemingly not designed to house them?
The panel was led by Ioana Gordon-Smith with Tim Melville, Ema Tavola and Kimberley Moulton.
How and When?
Thinking through artistic and curatorial examples of Aotearoa based exhibitions, what are the examples we need to learn from more and better. If then, how, and when do we need to look at new ways of presenting, representing ‘new’ art from Aotearoa? What are the systems required and are the uses of our institutions still relevant?
The panel was led by Remco de Blaaij with Cameron Ah Loo-Matamua, Ngahiraka Mason, Nigel Borell and Ashleigh Taupaki.
Collecting anew
Who and what are the new collectors? Should we talk simply about a new generation of collectors, or do we see a shift of focus in the attention of new collectors? What are the social motivations for collectors to collect and do they apply a more ‘ethical’ and political approach in their work? How do artists develop new ways of making a market for themselves, one that considers new infrastructures beyond galleries alone?
The panel was led by Remco de Blaaij with Hannah Chiaroni Clarke, Nikau Hindin, Jennie Hu and Nomadic Art Gallery (prerecorded response).