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Te Papa’s Education Programme for the Venice Biennale

12 March 2013 – 3.18pm

Read about the education programme Helen Lloyd, Te Papa’s Senior Education Programmer’s is designing on Creative New Zealand’s NZ at Venice blog:

http://www.nzatvenice.com/

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For the love games and … wiggling

12 February 2013 – 3.59pm

By Te Arikirangi Mamaku, Game Masters event producer

As the countdown to 2013 quickly approached, our Summer exhibition season of Game Masters opened with a mini-invasion of aliens, super-soldiers, fantasy elves, Norse gods, and stormtroopers. Unsuspecting visitors encountered face-epainting fairies and a magician who immortalised giant heads on teeny tiny bodies. It was too much fun to handle – and drew hundreds of visitors on a rare sunny day in New Zealand’s capital city.

The local Asari occupy Te Papa’s Wellington Foyer at Game Masters opening day events, with event producer Te Arikirangi Mamaku. Photograph by Norm Heke, Te Papa

The local Asari occupy Te Papa’s Wellington Foyer at Game Masters opening day events, with event producer Te Arikirangi Mamaku. Photograph by Norm Heke, Te Papa

Adult only experiences

As the silly season came to an end, a select group of adults from around the country got a private glimpse into Game Masters, with the addition of food, drink, and special entertainment. There was a Dance Off a la Dance Central 3. (Think karaoke, but with more wiggling. A lot more wiggling.)

Michelle Wylie and Chris Parnell wiggle their way to victory at December’s Premium Experience.

Michelle Wylie and Chris Parnell wiggle their way to victory at December’s Premium Experience. Image by Big Mark Photography.

Module goes live

The first event of the New Year exploded with the force of a sonic boom and dazzling laser lights. Captain Module (aka Jeramiah Ross), and the troops from the Interrupt Collective, led his troops into battle with two spectacular live shows as he performed the music of Shatter. The second of the two shows had both full-grown adults and littlies bouncing to the rhythm of the synths. In a very public statement (Facebook status update) Captain Modge is quoted as saying that ‘he kind of felt like a Wiggle’. I’m assuming he meant an Australian Wiggle, which is sadly not as groovy as a Dance Central type of wiggle.

Module and the boys of the Interrupt Collective prepare for battle at Module Live: The Music of Shatter. Image by Big Mark Photography

Module and the boys of the Interrupt Collective prepare for battle at Module Live: The Music of Shatter. Image by Big Mark Photography

NZ gamers go wild

February came screaming in with all the rollicking hi-jinx of Wellington’s annual Rugby 7s costume party. It goes without saying that there were enough moustachioed Italian plumbers around to make a princess blush. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with Game Masters being on, but the timing was fortuitous … for Museum folk and princesses alike.

DaFrontlineTrooper showcasing Forerunner technology at Te Papa. Image by Norm Heke, Te Papa

DaFrontlineTrooper showcasing Forerunner technology at Te Papa. Image by Norm Heke, Te Papa

As the city cleaned all the 7s fun from the streets of the Capital, Museum folk setup a display of pretend alien weaponry. It had been constructed by one frontline trooper and used in a stunning public demonstration of craftsmanship. Imagine the excitement of a 20-year-old who commands the undivided attention of over 16,000 Youtubers by literally carving out his own future. If you want another glimpse, just Google ‘dafrontline trooper’.

Valentines Date night with a difference.. and a Welsh/Samoan Comedian. Image by Big Mark Photography

Valentines Date night with a difference.. and a Welsh/Samoan Comedian. Image by Big Mark Photography

February and beyond

And hitting mid-February, you’d be foolish to miss these gatherings that carry you through to March:

  • Gamers Quest VI: Final Gear Halo Kart … Online. It’s a comedy night on Valentines. Think date night, with the added romance of gamers getting bonus points with their significant others.
  • Game Masters: The Premium Experience.  Food, drink, and videogames on a Friday night? Why not. 
  • Game Changes: The Kiwi Story. In this free family event, you get to listen to the epic stories of some of our own Game Masters. Did you realise that a guy in Hawke’s Bay has made mobile games that have peaked millions of App Store downloads? No? well … you can hear it from the proverbial horse’s mouth. 
  • Media Design School 3D Animation and Game Making. One of the presenters is an acclaimed film maker, and the other has a BAFTA (that’s the British one that played on the box on Monday). Hard to believe, but this is also a Free event. 

Bragging aside, these are definitely worth further investigation.

Final thoughts

In the next blog, I review the week’s events and highlight the superstars and sessions that feature in the epic Game Masters: The Forum. To tide you over, I’ll leave you with this little piece of mesmerising artistry.

Play it. Love it!

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Do you use Facebook? We need your help!

12 February 2013 – 9.35am

A group of university students are performing a study involving Te Papa’s social media use and they need your help.

They have put this survey together, which will be open until Wednesday 13 February:
EDIT: The survey is now closed. A big thank you to all of you who took the time to complete it.

Your participation is greatly appreciated!!

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Game Masters – The Forum announced

7 February 2013 – 2.49pm
Masaya Matsuura, of NanaOn-Sha (Japan)

Masaya Matsuura, of NanaOn-Sha (Japan)

Game Masters – The Forum taking place on March 4–5th at Te Papa in Wellington, brings together game developers, artists, educators, researchers, and filmmakers. The goal of the forum is to share knowledge and expand awareness of game development opportunities – both in New Zealand and abroad.

‘Attendees will shatter the stereotypes of games and discover the cultural, educational, and social impact they are having,’ said Stephen Knightly, Chair of the NZ Game Developers Association. ‘They’ll also have the chance to network with others in the fastest growing sector of New Zealand’s screen industry.’

International speakers confirmed for the event include Masaya Matsuura, of NanaOn-Sha (Japan), and Luke Muscat from Halfbrick (Australia.)

Matsuura-san’s work includes the seminal PaRappa the Rapper and the innovative Vib Ribbon – a game which generated its platforming levels from the music CDs gamers placed in their PlayStations. He is a true pioneer of the videogame industry, whose games have inspired a generation of game designers, and continue to create fun and imaginative ways for people to immerse themselves in music.

Luke Muscat from Halfbrick (Australia)

Luke Muscat from Halfbrick (Australia)

Luke Muscat and his team of just six people at Halfbrick are behind some of the hottest, most well–known, and best-selling mobile games of all time, including Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride, and Monster Dash. In the last two years alone, Luke’s games have been downloaded more than 300 million times.

The New Zealand industry is also well represented, starting with Mario Wynands – the Director of Sidhe/PikPok, New Zealand’s most successful and prolific developer and publisher of games across a wide range of platforms. In the last fifteen years, the company has released numerous successful and critically acclaimed titles, including Shatter, Speed Racer, Flick Kick Football, and Monsters Ate My Condo.

‘Game Masters – The Forum is really an opportunity to take a look under the hood of videogame development,’ suggested Helen Stuckey – a curator, researcher, and member of the Game Masters Industry Advisory Board. ‘It’s a chance to hear strong local and international speakers, to reflect on other ways to do business/make games, and an opportunity to consider the future of games themselves.’

Game Masters – The Forum will cover a wide range of topics, including those relevant to the game development industry and discussion of videogames as a cultural phenomenon. Subjects include Transmedia, Community Engagement, Games as Art, Serious Games, and Game History.

Attendees from industry, education, government, and the general public are all welcome, however tickets are strictly limited and there is no scope to expand the venue, so early booking is advised. Ticket prices start at $130 for both days, and numerous options are available, including student discounts, single day passes, and an expanded industry-specific option through which attendees will have opportunities to network with The Forum’s special guests.

For more information, refer to Game Masters – The Forum website. To book, or to find out more about the ticketing options, see The Forum registration page.

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Building Wellington’s biggest ever gingerbread house

13 December 2012 – 8.30am

This stunning house was baked by Te Papa’s Executive Chef, Bernd Lippmann. It’s the biggest ever made in Wellington! Check out the time-lapse video to see how it was done.

The tradition started in Germany, where witches have long used gingerbread as a building material. In 1812, the brothers Grimm broke this news when they wrote the fairytale Hansel and Gretel. This story offered useful tips about:

  • nasty stepmothers
  • the poor choice of crumbs as tracking material
  • the clever use of a bone to prevent consumption by witch.

All this seemed perfect for an opera, and soon German opera houses were busy making replica gingerbread houses for their performances. Bakeries were quick to join the craze. Gingerbread houses are now part of Christmas menus across Europe.

What went in

Our gingerbread house contains …

  • Flour                            296 kilograms
  • Sugar                          148 kilograms
  • Honey                          29.6 kilograms
  • Water                          74 litres
  • Butter                          44.4 kilograms
  • Baking soda                6.29 kilograms
  • Ground ginger             4.44 kilograms
  • Mixed spice                 2.22 kilograms
  • Cinnamon                   2.22 kilograms
  • Milk                              14.8 litres
  • Salt                              370 grams

Baking time: about 180 hours

Make your own!

You can make your own gingerbread house by buying a kit from the Information Desk, Te Papa Kids’ Store (Level 2), or Te Papa Cafe (Level 1). This is a limited edition of only 300! All proceeds go to Wellington Children’s Hospital.

Gingerbread house from a Te Papa kitset

Gingerbread house from a Te Papa kitset

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Weta Workshop’s Cave Trolls captivate Te Papa

30 November 2012 – 1.30pm

Standing 3.6m tall, these impressive fibreglass troll sculptures were created by the original filmartists at Weta Workshop.

William (on the left), Tom (ready to stomp) and Bert, first met their adoring audience at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2012.

They then journeyed to Wellington to greet guests on the red carpet at the World Premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and are now on loan here at Te Papa until 22 January.

Visit Te Papa’s kids store for related merchandise and see more fantastical creatures, collectibles and prop replicas from Middle-earth at the Weta Cave in Miramar.

Weta Cave Trolls in Wellington Foyer. Photo Michael Hall. © Te Papa.

Weta Cave Trolls in Wellington Foyer. Photo Michael Hall. © Te Papa.

Weta Cave Trolls in Wellington Foyer. Photo Michael Hall. © Te Papa.

Weta Cave Trolls in Wellington Foyer. Photo Michael Hall. © Te Papa.

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From the Our Space engine room……

13 November 2012 – 8.46am

Scrolling through the thousands of images you have sent us over the past few years there are certain favourites that continue to delight not just the moderators but the majority of visitors too.

You will probably know them already – we see the perennials constantly returning to the ‘most viewed’ images on the Wall. Possibly the most viewed photo is this one…

Giant bubble, Queen's Wharf, Wellington 19 May 2005. Photograph and copyright: Philip Capper

Giant bubble, Queen’s Wharf, Wellington 19 May 2005. Photograph and copyright: Philip Capper

…a slightly out-of-focus Giant Bubble created out on Wellington’s waterfront. Just look at those fantastic colours floating in the air.

There in one single moment in time is all of our childhood wonder and delight at such a marvellous thing…a beautiful bubble which will burst any moment and leave us slightly sad but smiling that we saw it. It’s hardly a surprise then that a man can turn bubbles into a career and bring joy to thousands of kids-of- all-ages. Great big bubbles, bubbles within bubbles, multi-story bubbles, magical bubbles.

The thing about visiting the Museum is to try and remember the sheer delight of your first visits as a child. We see it every day as children cannot contain the joy of discovery, squealing as they try and take it all in. Then as they grow and return to that wonderfully silly moment when they recognise an old friend like the waterball at the front door. Cool! Following on are favourites that capture the Wahoo moments of our lives…that moment of Freedom, no shackles just busting out and having fun like…these guys.

FMX. Photograph and copyright: Pieter ten Broek

FMX. Photograph and copyright: Pieter ten Broek

Turoa. Photograph and copyright: Pieter ten Broek

Turoa. Photograph and copyright: Pieter ten Broek

“When I grow up I want to be a kid”. Hold that thought and you’ll have just the ‘Bestest’ adventures right throughout your life.

by RG, OurSpace moderator and host

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Module performs for Game Masters

6 November 2012 – 12.01pm

In association with Te Papa’s season of Game Masters exhibition, opening at Te Papa on 15 December, renowned electronic musician/producer Module, aka Jeramiah Ross, will perform his critically acclaimed soundtrack from the award-winning video game Shatter. He will perform two concerts at Te Papa’s Soundings Theatre on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 January 2013, 7pm–8.30pm.

Module performing Shatter Live, San Francisco Bath House, September 2012, image by Mario Wynands. Copyright: Mario Wynands

Module performing Shatter Live, San Francisco Bath House, September 2012, image by Mario Wynands. Copyright: Mario Wynands

Building on a successful production at Wellington’s San Francisco Bath House, ‘this is set to be a much larger production for a broader audience’ says Module.

The performance tells the story of a robot breaking free to escape an oppressive machine-based world. Module will single-handedly play and loop a wide range of instruments including computers, synthesizers, and electric guitars.

Attendees can expect a heady mix of French Electro, fused with 80s inspired Dance Music and driven by pounding dance rhythms, blazing solos, and keyboard embellishments.

In true Module fashion, the show will be an immersive sensory experience that will include lasers and lights. The high production standards will be supported by Wellington based digital media artists Interrupt Collective.

Module Live is set to be a truly memorable experience.

Tickets for both nights go on sale early November with a limited number of early release tickets priced at $15.00 (+ booking fee) available through Te Papa’s website. Normal ticket prices range from $12.00 for children, to  $22.00 for adults.

www.tepapa.govt.nz/gamemasters

Enquiries

For further information, contact:

Tina Norris, Manager Communications (Acting), 021 225 7538, 04 381 7233, Tina.Norris@tepapa.govt.nz

For event specific information and images, contact:

Te Arikirangi Mamaku, Events Producer, 027 250 4140,  04 381 7239, Tearikirangim@tepapa.govt.nz

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Two Te Papa exhibitions open at the National Museum of China

2 November 2012 – 4.44pm

Two Te Papa exhibitions open at the National Museum of China

Kura Pounamu: Treasured stone of Aotearoa New Zealand
Brian Brake: Lens on China and New Zealand

2012 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and New Zealand. To mark the occasion, Te Papa is delighted to partner with the National Museum of China to present two exhibitions that speak of the friendship between our two countries.

Kura Pounamu exhibition at the National Museum of China. Te Papa

Kura Pounamu exhibition at the National Museum of China. Te Papa

The hugely successful opening event on 31 October, was attended by over 300 invited guests and members of the public as well as New Zealand’s Ambassador to China and New Zealand Embassy and business representatives. Around 50 members of the press also attended and Te Papa’s Chief Executive, Mike Houlihan later interviewed on China Central TV.

Iwi representatives Shane Te Ruki (Ngati Maniapoto) and Richard Wallace (Ngai Tahu) opened the exhibition with a karakia.

Read more about these exhibitions

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Te Papa to display a selection of European art from New Zealand’s collections

15 October 2012 – 2.34pm

Angels and Aristocrats: Early European art in New Zealand public collections, an exhibition of European paintings spanning five centuries from about 1340 to 1830, opens at Te Papa on 20 October 2012. The exhibition is developed as a touring exhibition from Auckland Art Gallery

Toi o Tāmaki which comprises a selection of works from Mary Kisler’s book of the same name, published in 2010.

Divided into themes of religious art, landscape art, narrative paintings and portraiture, Angels and Aristocrats is drawn from the collections of Auckland Art Gallery, Te Papa, Christchurch Art Gallery, Dunedin Public Art Gallery and Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery.

The exhibition begins with small medieval panels of saints alongside grand baroque works such as Guido Reni’s St Sebastian, through to depictions of the Roman campagna and the rich landscapes of the Netherlands, exemplified in paintings by Claude Lorraine and Aelbert Cuyp.

Guido Reni (1575–1642), Italy, Saint Sebastian, about 1617–21, oil on canvas. Gift of James Tannock Mackelvie, 1882. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Guido Reni (1575–1642), Italy, Saint Sebastian, about 1617–21, oil on canvas. Gift of James Tannock Mackelvie, 1882. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Genre painting focuses on all aspects of human behaviour, whether heroic and humble. In Pieter Breughel the Younger’s Village Fair, for example, (ostensibly a celebration of two village saints, St Anthony and St Hubert) rich and poor celebrate the kermesse, where feasting and drinking (and falling drunk among the chickens) allowed brief respite from everyday drudgery.

Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564–1638), Flanders, A Village Fair (Village Festival in Honour of Saint Hubert and Saint Anthony), early 1600s, oil on panel. Purchased by the Mackelvie Trust, 1961. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564–1638), Flanders, A Village Fair (Village Festival in Honour of Saint Hubert and Saint Anthony), early 1600s, oil on panel. Purchased by the Mackelvie Trust, 1961. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

The power of portraiture to ‘keep the memory alive’, whether through formal portraits, or the careful rendering of a loved one’s features, is strongly represented by paintings from the 17th century to the early 19th century. The illegitimate but widely admired Maria, Countess Waldegrave (Dunedin) by Sir Joshua Reynolds, sits in the company of Thomas Gainsborough’s George Lavington, Bishop of Exeter, whose grim expression suggests he certainly would not approve.

Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88), England, George Lavington, Bishop of Exeter, 1760s, oil on canvas. Purchased by the Mackelvie Trust, 1960. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88), England, George Lavington, Bishop of Exeter, 1760s, oil on canvas. Purchased by the Mackelvie Trust, 1960. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

The core touring exhibition includes 52 paintings drawn from the collections of Auckland Art Gallery, Te Papa, Christchurch Art Gallery, Dunedin Public Art Gallery and Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery. While at Te Papa Angels and Aristocrats will include 12 extra genre and classical landscape paintings, including George Dawe’s enormous Genevieve, painted in response to Coleridge’s famous romantic poem Love.

Angels and Aristocrats: Early European art in New Zealand public collections is at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa from 20 October 2012 – 27 January 2013. Visit www.tepapa.govt.nz/angels

Download a printable version (PDF, 92kB)

For further information, images and interview requests please contact:
Tina Norris
Ph : 04 381 7233 or 021 225 7538
Email: Media@tepapa.govt.nz

Angels and Aristocrats: Early European Art in New Zealand Public Collectionsis an Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki touring exhibition curated by Mary Kisler, Senior Curator, Mackelvie Collection, International Art.

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