Tag Archives: Mary Kisler

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.

By Te Papa | Posted in Art, Exhibitions, News | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

2012 Costume and Textile Symposium – registrations open!

6 June 2012 – 6.00pm

Registrations are now open for this year’s annual NZ Costume and Textile Association symposium – Town & Country. The symposium is being held in Nelson, which will hopefully live up to its sunny reputation come July. To download a registration form click here.

This year the CTANZ is delighted to be hosting three speakers whose expertise will bring a truly international flavour to the annual symposium. We are thrilled to welcome Mary Kisler as a keynote. Mary Kisler is the Senior Curator at Auckland Art Gallery, and is well-known nationally through her lively conversations about art with Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand. Much to our delight, she is also working alongside the Art Team at Te Papa at present. Her infectious enthusiasm for art history and ability to decode the stories embedded within artworks is guaranteed to make for a highly entertaining and thought-provoking keynote address.

With her interest in portraiture, costume and textiles are an important part of Mary’s research as they hold many subtle hints about the character of the sitter. Her keynote address is enticingly entitled Silken Slippers, Wooden Shoes and is inspired by this portrait of Louise de Kéroualle, King Charles II’s mistress. Of Louise’s appearance, Mary mysteriously comments ‘sometimes signs and symbols are not what they seem’.

Portrait of Louise de Kerouaille by Henri Gascar ca. 1670 (Auckland Gallery of Art, Auckland New Zealand)

From 17th century intrigue, we hit the road with  Ann-Maree Reaney and Jill Kinnear, who will be presenting their collaborative textile/art project American Road Trip.

Four Corners dress from American Road Trip. Photograph copyright and courtesy of Ann-Maree Reaney and Jill Kinnear. This project has received financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Ann-Maree is a practicing visual artist based in Brisbane, where she has had a considerable career both as an artist and an educator.  Jill is a textile designer and artist currently based in Savannah, Georgia, where she holds the position of Professor of Fibers at Savannah College of Art and Design. In American Road Trip, the pair have created a collaborative series of printed textile forms that are wearable, as well as contextual photographs and videos, which capture the essence of travel.  Using textile, structure and digital pattern, these collaborative works reflect an abiding interest in other cultures, experiences and the unique perspective of a journey. They will come to us fresh from a research trip to India.

These are just two of the 20 presentations that will make up the two-day symposium. For a full programme keep an eye out on the Costume and Textile Association blog. The symposium is open to members and non-members alike, and newcomers are always warmly welcomed.

By Claire Regnault | Posted in Events, Fashion, History, Textiles | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)
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