Art’s ‘greatest hits’ on show
It’s the competition that each year challenges people to consider and reassess their ideas of what constitutes art – and this year, there are 20 years of ideas to ponder.
A celebratory exhibition showcasing works from past winners and finalists of the National Contemporary Art Award will open at Waikato Museum tomorrow.
The ‘‘greatest hits’’ offering follows the Covid-19-caused cancellation of the 2020 competition earlier this year.
The featured works have been selected from the Trust Waikato Art and Taonga Collection, The Friends of the Museum Collection and the Waikato Bequests Trust Collection, all of which form part of the wider Waikato Museum collection.
Launched in 2000 by the Waikato Society of Arts and managed since 2006 by Waikato Museum, the competition each year brings works regarded as the country’s best examples of contemporary art to Hamilton.
The award has a rich history of intriguing and quirky artworks being selected for inclusion – or even winning the competition.
In 2014 it was Wellington artist Deanna Dowling’s work
– a shelf with a fluorescent tube delicately perched on its edge – that took top honours.
A cream-coloured bus shelter created by Auckland artists Michael Parr and Blaine Western won the 2012 competition.
And in 2009 fellow Auckland artist Dane Mitchell took out the award for his piece packaging from other award entries that he instructed gallery staff to throw together as his exhibit.
Museum director Cherie Meecham said the retrospective exhibition was an opportunity to showcase the diversity and calibre of past judges and artists alike.
Hamilton firms Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects, who have cosponsored the award since 2014 and 2015 respectively, have declared their commitment to supporting the competition when it returns next year.
The exhibition will run until January 24, and entry is free.