Bringing taonga out of storage
Sometimes what’s hidden away at Te Manawa is just as interesting as what’s on display, and a new exhibition is bringing some of those tucked-away treasures to light.
The Nova exhibition, which showcases 100 pieces collected by Te Manawa between 2010 and 2015, was a wonderful chance to bring some out for all to see, Collections and Knowledge Assets Manager Jeff Fox said.
‘‘Not everything gets to see the light of day due to the natural sequence of things, so this is fantastic,’’ he said.
‘‘It was quite a hard decision on what pieces would go in, we have acquired about 15,000 pieces over that time.
‘‘It was so difficult to choose, so hard in fact that we have decided to do another exhibition after this one. So Nova Two or Supernova maybe.’’
The exhibition covered three themes: Nga taonga Maori, covering customary and contemporary Maori visual culture; Space and Grace, looking at the growth of Palmerston North and Manawatu and The Collectors, featuring the stories of four significant donors to the collection.
Fox said people were the common thread running throughout the exhibition.
‘‘Nova has been a chance to tell the stories and show the people behind the collection and we love being able to do that.’’
Items range from archeological finds from Mangaroa Pa at Lake Horowhenua, excavated by Richard Rolston in the 1940s, through to a pushbike used by Palmerston North policeman Barney Arnold in the 1930s and 40s to patrol his beat.
Modern pieces such as a video piece donated by filmmaker Vincent Ward also sit beside the more historical pieces.
‘‘We have been able to put things together in an interesting way.
‘‘So the area with the Vincent Ward piece is related to the idea of conflict and resolution and spirituality.
‘‘So there are some works by John Bevan Ford that he did before he past and and another by Greg Semu.
‘‘This area is meant to be a bit deliberately uncomfortable in terms of experience.’’
Te Manawa’s collection aims to preserve Manawatu’s heritage and holds about 55,000 items, including artworks, interactive science exhibits, taonga, heritage objects and natural history specimens.
Fox said 90 per cent of the collection had been donated to Te Manawa. The rest has been acquired and a very small amount was on loan.
‘‘We are so grateful to those that donate to us and that has informed the approach that we have taken to Nova which is to celebrate those people and their interest in keeping the heritage of Palmy and Manawatu alive.’’
Nova runs until November 27 in Te Manawa’s Gallery 3.