Release the Stars

Hiria Anderson, Russ Flatt, Star Gossage, Brett Graham, Ayesha Green, Nikau Hindin, PĀNiA!, Fiona Pardington

Tim Melville Gallery
4 Winchester St, Grey Lynn, Auckland

11 February - 07 March 2020

The exhibition's title Release the Stars comes from a 2007 Rufus Wainwright album inspired - the musician explains - by a wish to start “opening up and following impulses” and by “the fact that it’s time to get out there and be part of the solution”. Wainwright's goals resonated with me. After 12 years Tim Melville Gallery is finding its voice and, despite having much still to learn, I feel a responsibility as a Maori gallerist (Te Arawa, Te Atiawa) to try and represent a Maori world-view to our predominantly European audience of friends and supporters. How can we build bridges? How can we encourage connection? And, going further, how can we explore and celebrate indigenous relationships within Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and with our Iwi Moemoea cousins across the water in Australia?