Creative New Zealand Media Release
Creative New Zealand and Christchurch Art Gallery director Jenny Harper are pleased to announce that Michael Parekowhai
will show his 2011 Venice Biennale exhibition On first looking into Chapman’s Homer at Paris’s renowned musée du quai
Branly.
Michael Parekowhai’s exhibition will travel to Paris at the conclusion of the Venice project in October with three works
being showcased at the museum. The two bronze grand pianos, each supporting a cast bronze bull, A Peak in Darien and
Chapman’s Homer will be installed in early November 2011 in the grounds of the museum beside rue de l’Université, a key
route for pedestrians visiting the nearby Eiffel Tower. Te Papa’s E Tu Ake will still be on at this time and connections
may be made with this exhibition of New Zealand work.
In February 2012 the carved Steinway, He Korero Purakau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealand River will be
positioned in the entrance foyer of the museum with a series of recitals planned.
“Follow-on invitations are a significant way for the value of the Venice Biennale project to be registered and they also
demonstrate the level of respect shown to our artists who are selected to show there. We welcome this opportunity to
extend Parekowhai’s major presentation in Europe and Christchurch Art Gallery is pleased to be assisting the artist and
his team to show his Venice work in a different context in another key European cultural hub,” says Jenny Harper.
Creative New Zealand Arts Council Chair, Alastair Carruthers is delighted that the artist has received this invitation.
“The Venice Biennale continues to provide New Zealand artists with the chance to present work at the highest level
overseas. This remarkable exhibition deserves a wider audience and Michael Parekowhai should be congratulated on its
success.”
The exhibition will return to New Zealand mid next year at Christchurch Art Gallery. “It will be exciting to welcome
this key work back home a year after it opened in Venice, keeping the Biennale heartbeat strong at home as well as
overseas,” says Jenny Harper.
The continued success of Michael Parekowhai’s exhibition in Venice follows it being picked by The Independent as one of
the winners of this year’s biennale. A number of influential journalists visited the exhibition during the Vernissage
from The Art Newspaper, ArtAsiaPacific, The Guardian, Art Review, Frieze, Tate and Royal Academy Magazine alongside
representatives from New York’s Museum of Modern Art, London’s Saatchi and Hayward Galleries, as well as from public art
galleries in Canada, San Francisco and Australia.
To date a daily average of 300 people visit the New Zealand exhibition, consistently rating it ‘excellent’ with many
commenting on the variety of music performed on the carved piano, their identification with the carvings and the
magnificence of the large-scale sculptures.[*]
Announcement of Commissioner and process for 2013 artist selection
Creative New Zealand has started planning for the 2013 Venice Biennale with the announcement that Jenny Harper, director
of Christchurch Art Gallery, will continue as commissioner for the 2013 project. A deputy commissioner will also be
appointed as a professional development opportunity.
A panel, chaired by Arts Council Chair Alastair Carruthers, will be convened in late September to commence the selection
of the artist(s) for 2013. The panel will comprise of gallery directors and visual arts experts, including Māori
representation. Prior to the selection meeting the Commissioner will seek advice from the wider visual arts sector and
invite them to propose names of artists and/or artist/curator teams.
The Arts Council will consider the panel's recommendations and expects to make an announcement in late October.
Creative New Zealand is delighted that the 2013 Head of the Patrons will be Dayle Mace whose contribution to the
fund-raising alongside Dame Jenny Gibbs over the last few biennales has been invaluable. Mace will be assisted by Leigh
Melville.
In 2011 the Patrons of the Venice Biennale raised a record amount for the New Zealand exhibition of $312,000 and over 70
patrons attended the opening week or Vernissage – the largest contingent so far in the ten year history of New Zealand’s
presence at the Venice Biennale.
Creative New Zealand will also work closely with Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand on the realisation of the New
Zealand exhibition in 2013.
*****
[*]The daily visitor average is based on a thermal counter at the venue, there is also a four question survey for
visitors to rate the exhibition as well as a visitor book that records their comments.
ENDS