KEY POINTS:
As part of AK07, the Auckland Art Gallery hosted a party to celebrate the opening of Turbulence: The 3rd Auckland Triennial, the country's premier contemporary art exhibition.
The multi-venue exhibition includes works by 35 artists from 20 countries exploring the theme of turbulence - or today's complex and unpredictable cultural and political environment.
The international artists include Turner Prize finalists Isaac Julien (UK), Phil Collins (UK) and Willie Doherty (Northern Ireland) as well as Mona Hatoum (Palestine/UK), Michal Rovner (Israel/US), Fiona Hall (Australia), The Long March Project (People's Republic of China) and Carlos Capelán (Uruguay/Sweden). All are exhibited alongside nine Kiwis including Shane Cotton, John Pule and Yuk King Tan.
While the speeches continued inside, guests began to fill up the cordoned-off alfresco area beside the fountain until it was standing room only. Part-way through the evening, a brave performance artist donned a bathing suit and frolicked in the fountain with some flowers while being filmed, bemusing some and entertaining others.
After dark, the Kitchener St vantage point gave guests a perfect view of the Sky Tower's impressive fireworks to welcome the French pyrotechnicians Groupe F, who are performing free in the Domain tonight at 7.30.
