Critics not placated by new art space

WELLINGTON: A former National Art Gallery director says Te Papa is failing to do justice to the national art collection.

The museum has been responsible for the collection for the past 20 years, and has faced criticism from art lovers for the amount it displays at once.

But in March, Te Papa opened Toi Art, a new $8.4 million gallery which promised 35% more space for art.

It has been seven months since that gallery opened — so are we seeing more of the collection?

The national art archive is hidden behind a secret door in the museum, and is packed with rows of historical and contemporary art pieces, which have been carefully preserved and protected. The collection dates back to 1865.

It started with works being given to the nation, and has built over time.

‘‘It’s a collection of about 40,000 art works, which includes, paintings, sculpture and works on paper,’’ Te Papa head of art Charlotte Davy said.

Only 1.5% of the collection is at present on display; just over 630 pieces.

Close to 600 of those are displayed in Toi Art alone. The amount on display has already trumped the museum’s previous art galleries.

Toi Te Papa, which was open from 2004 to 2012, displayed just under 600 pieces during that time.

Te Papa’s new rolling programme, which was introduced with Toi Art, will allow them to display more of the collection, Ms Davy said.

‘‘Prior to that, we were making some changes to the art collection display but now that we’re doing sort of firm changes every three or four months, we’re seeing a lot more of the collection roll through the gallery,’’ Ms Davy said.

More than 340,000 people have been through Toi Art since it opened.

Charlotte Davy said that shows people still care about the collection.

‘‘Seeing the response to Toi Art, I think there’s been a great outpouring and a great sense of ownership for the national collection,’’ Ms Davy said.

Luit Beiringa knows the collection well. He is a former director of the Buckle Street Art Gallery.

He said the collection should not be displayed through a rolling programme.

‘‘The little temporary turnovers, that’s OK for people who live next door and can pop in every six months, but not OK for the supposed overseas tourist market that they are also aiming their market at,’’ he said.

The rolling programme means the quality of the collection on display will vary, he said. — RNZ