Tag Archives: Hillary

Slice of Heaven: 20th century Aotearoa – first view from the floor

One week to go before Slice of Heaven opens and they let me in for a quick peek at the exhibition – from the floor this time, not the bridge!

The team is still busy installing and there is still lots to get finished. I’ve been working on the Slice of Heaven website with the team (there’s more to come soon) and have only seen most of the objects as images and in spreadsheets. 

View the objects in the Slice of Heaven exhibition on Collections Online.  

So it was fantastic to see the actual objects, beautifully displayed in the completed cases and the settings that give them context. It’s what exhibitions are all about.

Here is the bust of Ed Hillary that I talked about in an earlier post – looking magnificent.  To the right you can see the signs used to show the “dance menu” at ballroom dancing social events, popular in the 1950s.

It's New Zealand in the fifties. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

It's New Zealand in the fifties. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

I was keen to see the “green grass” up close and get to walk on it. (I resisted the urge to roll though). I got my first look at the fun and quirky displays in the “Home-grown” section of the exhibition.  

Explore everyday objects through the years in Home-grown. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

Explore everyday objects through the years in Home-grown. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

Visitors are going to love exploring these intricate displays of everyday objects, from different time periods across the 20th century.

Here are a few snap shots - try and work out which years they are from.

Everyday toys - from what year?. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

Everyday toys - from what year?. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

Is there anything here that you remember?

Does your office at home look like this?

Does your office at home look like this? Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

Maybe you still use something in here, or perhaps you just keep it in the shed?

See anything familiar here? perhaps you still use one! Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

See anything familiar here? perhaps you still use one! Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

History is about the past and how we remember it. Slice of Heaven the exhibition will be full of stories and rich memories of Aoteaora New Zealand in the 20th century.

Slice of Heaven -20th century Aotearoa:views from the bridge 3

It’s been a week of  intense activity in the Slice of Heaven exhibition space.

With two weeks to go until opening all the teams involved in the project have been hard at work. Objects get installed, graphic panels are put up, wiring is sorted and cases for the next lot of objects are prepared. It’s a complex undertaking with lots of people and many different tasks involved – so it needs careful coordination. Patience and a sense of humour also helps! 

So the view from the bridge has changed – take a look.

In the 1950s New Zealand and Britain celebrated the Queen’s coronation. Can you spot the bust of Ed Hillary who conquered Everest with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953? 

It's 1953 and NZ celebrates the Queen's coronation.

It's 1953 and NZ celebrates the Queen's coronation. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

One section of the exhibition explores how the role of the state in New Zealanders’  lives has changed during the 20th century. During the Great Depression of the 1930s there was high unemployment and many jobless New Zealanders were forced to accept charity. 

Careful installation of the Depression theme.

Careful installation of the Depression theme. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

The radical economic and social reforms of the 1980s and 90s – Rogernomics – is explored further on in the exhibition. A highlight of this section is 12 monitors each showing a different story of this tumultous time.

Video stories of the Rogernomics era.

Video stories of the Rogernomics era. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

Stories of Māori in the 20th century are a key part of Slice of Heaven. This part of the exhibition explores the Māori struggle for rights, equality,  and land – all presented within a beautiful wharenui structure.     

Team members in discussion outside the wharenui, where the stories of Māori in the 20th century are presented. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

Team members in discussion outside the wharenui, where the stories of Māori in the 20th century are presented. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

And then there’s the green, green grass – which seems to have expanded. I can only get an intriguing glimpse of this from the bridge – enough to see the pink skateboard attached to the wall.

I really want to see more, but I’ll just have to wait… 14 days to be precise. 

More intriguing glimpses of the exhibition.

More intriguing glimpses of the exhibition. Copyright Te Papa, 2010.

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