Asia opportunity for Suter curator
A trip to Japan and Taiwan will potentially see more Asian-inspired art in the Suter Art Gallery, says curator Sarah McClintock.
McClintock has been selected as one of three people to be part of the 2017 Curators Programme, which includes a three-week trip to Japan and Taiwan.
Other participants are Wellington’s Enjoy Public Art Gallery curator Sophie Davis and New Plymouth’s GovettBrewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre assistant curator Sarah Wall.
McClintock said she hoped to use the programme to establish connections with artists and collaborators in Taiwan and Japan.
‘‘I was incredibly excited, I will admit to doing a little dance in the office when I got the call because I was so thrilled to be selected.
‘‘Some of the leading curators in New Zealand have been on this tour so it’s really great that me and the Suter have been recognised as being at the level to go on a tour like this.’’
McClintock said she would also be working towards several exhibitions, examining contemporary and historic links between Asian and Aotearoa New Zealand craft.
‘‘[It] could potentially lead to exhibitions or a greater understanding about our position within that history.
‘‘In particular with Nelson and our ceramic history ... and I’m really interested to see what’s happening in contemporary ceramics over there.’’
McClintock said she had been to Japan before, but only for a few days.
‘‘I’m just so excited, I just know I’m going to come back with so many ideas, it’s really going to lead to a really enriched programme here at the Suter.
‘‘What I’m really interested is that cultural exchange that can happen, bringing Asian art to Nelson.’’
The trio will be visiting leading art museums, galleries and artist spaces in Taiwan and Japan in October to build their professional networks and explore possible future collaborations and artistic exchanges.
Asia New Zealand Foundation executive director Simon Draper said they had a ‘‘very strong field of applicants’’ this year.
McClintock was chosen based on her track record, personal motivation and potential long term impact of her participation on the New Zealand art scene.
Draper said the aim of the curators programme was to assist curators to develop market knowledge of the contemporary art in Taiwan and Japan and its relevance for a New Zealand audience.
‘‘We hope through this experience they will increase awareness of the cultural and artistic practice in Asia and perhaps explore opportunities for New Zealand artists to have their works exhibited in Taiwan and Japan,’’ Draper said.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation started the programme in 2010 and had since sent 18 curators to Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan in collaboration with Creative New Zealand.