Oriori

MEDIA RELEASE - 30 October 2006

A dozen Auckland artists are packed into stripy storage bags in Oriori – a new multi-media work by Rachael Rakena, Jane Venis and Kurt Adams opening at Auckland Art Gallery this Friday.

An oriori is a Maori chant, sometimes similar to a lullaby, performed for a wide range of purposes.

This Oriori puts the gallery to bed to prepare for its $90 million reincarnation by calling on the spirit and wisdom of its legacy.

Artists including Peter Madden, Areta Wilkinson, Stella Brennan and Brett Graham are shown slumbering in hibernation, lulled by sounds of construction, music and snoring.

Their dreams play out in mesmerising animated drawings.

The project is the final in a series curated by Andrew Clifford for the exhibition 5 4 3 2 1: Auckland Artist Projects.

Oriori combines Rachael Rakena’s interest in states of flux, Jane Venis’ talent with sound and Kurt Adams’ animated drawing to locate the past, present and future in the same moment and ask, ‘where do we come from and where are we going?’

5 4 3 2 1: Auckland Artist Projects Auckland Art Gallery, Cnr Wellesley & Kitchener Sts Admission: Adult $7, Concession $5, Children under 5 free.

ENDS

www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz

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