New Zealand Art at Te Papa

Description

Te Papa holds New Zealand's national art collection, whose origins date back to 1865 and the establishment of the then Colonial Museum (later the Dominion and then the National Museum). Built up over the years by a succession of directors and curators, the collection's 40,000 works track New Zealand history and the art movements within it. In this generous book, Te Papa's curators and a wide range of other expert art writers showcase the strengths of the New Zealand art collection by discussing around 270 works. From very early colonial work through to recent acquisitions, and including photography, their essays offer insights into the art, the artists and the context and issues that drove them. The book is complemented by biographies of all the featured artists, making it a valuable resource.

Dr Mark Stocker is an art historian whose research is in late 18th to early-mid 20th century art, particularly British and New Zealand art and especially sculpture, public monuments and numismatics (coins and medals). He has a broader interest in Victorian and Edwardian art and Art Deco. His current research includes Queen Victoria statuary in New Zealand, the sculpture of Kathleen Scott (widow of Scott of the Antarctic) and New Zealand's coinage.

'This door-stopper-sized compilation from Te Papa's collections marks the recent expansion of space for art within the museum ... Solid and well-produced, (it) works as a giant picture book and handy work of reference.' - New Zealand Herald; 'With a demure design and simple cover, this publication showcases more than 270 works, chosen by the museum's curatorial team and explained, we are assured by its editor, art historian Mark Stocker, in "intelligent, jargon-free writing" ... The goal, he says, is to get people into a space of critical thinking.' - NZ Listener; '"The following list represents what I think are the cream of that crop, judged on their production values and lasting legacy to New Zealand art...a lavish publication to pore over with a great many highlights among the 270 artworks selected from the national collection's 40,000 ...' - Andrew Paul Wood; 'A resounding and triumphant clarion call that unashamedly heralds the artistic achievements of the past two centuries.' - Scoop; 'This is a book to pore over. More than 50 curators and art writers, including the likes of Mary Kisler, Robert Leonard, Gregory O'Brien and Rangihiroa Panoho, discuss 270 artworks in a sweep through New Zealand's national art collection... Artist bios add to the usefulness and quality of this lavish volume.' - North & South; '... All (the featured artists) are written about by various experts in easy, accessible style and so, with biographies of the artists, a valuable resource that is also a highly enjoyable page-flipping browse has been produced.' - Art News New Zealand; 'The various artists and paintings have large full-colour illustrations along with clear, descriptive comments, providing insights into the art, the artists and the context and issues that drove them. The book is complemented by biographies of all the featured artists, making it a valuable resource.' - National Business Review