Art Gallery closes for major exhibition set-up

A work by Peter Madden,'Untitled', 1999.

Art lovers will to go into withdrawal for five days in August as the Hastings Art Gallery will be closing for the installation of a unique exhibition.

Those passing by will get a chance to get a sneak-peak of the works by 23 artists with connections to Hawke's Bay - some internationally known and others who are emerging in the art scene.

East 2018 is expected to draw a colourful crowd and will feature a mixture of rarely seen existing works along with 10 new works commissioned specifically for the exhibition, which takes place on August 11-November 11.

Internationally recognised artists who will splash their art on the white walls of the gallery include George Nuku, David Trubridge, Vanessa Arthur, Rangituhia Hollis, Joyce Campbell and Clare Plug.

Those who won't be able to cope with the suspense can still take part in the experience by using "peep-holes" in the gallery's window coverings to catch a glimpse of the endeavour.

Gallery director Toni MacKinnon says it's going to be a mixed bag once the exhibition goes live.

"It is an exciting if very busy time, arranging the installation of works from so many artists across a comprehensive range of mediums, from painting, ceramics, photography and architecture to industrial design, video, conceptual and performance art."

The exhibition is being pieced together by senior independent Wellington-based curator and writer Bruce E Phillips, who has woven his way around the country meeting with the artists.

Phillips says the breadth of conversations during the meetings has been enormously diverse.

"We discussed tracing the whakapapa and reliving childhood memories. We marvelled at climate change data and mourned the death of fish and forests.

We considered the rhizomatic nature of images, the ancient knowledge of Japanese kilns and debated the politics of everything from cigarettes to overlooked deities and architecture."

As Phillips continued his journey he crafted a whakatauki (proverb) to accompany the exhibition, similar to one that had been on his mind during planning with the original named "Whatu-ngarongaro he tangata, toitū he kāinga" (People pass away, but places still remain.)

The whakatauki for the exhibition is "People pass away, but places still remain; Order controls limits, but chaos unleashes infinity; Cities eventually collapse, but forests forever rise."

Hastings District Councillor Wendy Schollum, who holds the community engagement portfolio, says the exhibition will showcase how broad the Hawke's Bay arts community is.

"I am really looking forward to it, seeing some of our well-known favourites but also looking at work by our next generation of artists."