Lisa Reihana and Rhana Devenport in conversations at Allpress Studio

Admired arts luminaries discuss everything from Venus to Venice at intimate event, 21 February

Lovers of good conversation and great coffee are invited to the Allpress Studio in Auckland on Tuesday 21 February for an exclusive event with two of New Zealand’s most admired visual arts commentators, artist Lisa Reihana and Director of the Auckland Art Gallery Rhana Devenport.

In this intimate, one-night-only event, Reihana and Devenport will discuss the journey to the Venice Arte Biennale 2017 of Reihana’s extraordinary panoramic artwork, in Pursuit of Venus [infected] 2015 – 2017, its creation, evolution and the passion with which New Zealanders have embraced the work.

in Pursuit of Venus [infected] is a cinematic re-imagining of the Neo-classical French wallpaper Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique (1804–05). The designers of the commercially produced wallpaper referenced illustrations made on the voyages to the Pacific by Captain James Cook and Louis de Bougainville.

Two centuries later, Reihana harnessed digital technologies to animate, activate and recast the original fable-like wallpaper into a spectacular, large and immersive panoramic video that challenges historical and contemporary stereotypes.

At the event, which will be one of the last chances to hear Reihana talk about the work before it heads to the Venice Arte Biennale 2017, the speakers will be joined by New Zealand at Venice Commissioner, Alastair Carruthers, and Allpress Founder, Michael Allpress.

Since 1895, the Venice Art Biennale has been widely recognised as the foremost international art exhibition in the world. The Venice exhibition Lisa Reihana: Emissaries, which will represent New Zealand contemporary art at this pre-eminent art event, comprises an extended version of in Pursuit of Venus [infected] from that which premiered in New Zealand alongside a series of new photographic works.

Of Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Hine Ngāi Tū descent, Lisa Reihana lives and works in Auckland. Her work has featured in significant museums and major exhibition across the world.

Reihana was made an Arts Laureate by the New Zealand Arts Foundation in 2014. She was shortlisted for the Signature Art Prize at the Singapore Art Museum in 2014 for in Pursuit of Venus [infected]; as well as the Double Take Anne Landa Award, Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2009 and the Walters Prize at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in 2008, both for Digital Marae.

New Zealand coffee company Allpress is a supporting partner of Lisa Reihana’s exhibition and hospitality partner for the opening events for the New Zealand exhibition in Venice.

With roasteries in Auckland, Dunedin, Sydney, Melbourne, London and Tokyo, Allpress has a long history of generously supporting the arts, including establishing two galleries, both free to visit and exhibit in – one in Auckland and one in Melbourne.

Event information

Lisa Reihana and Rhana Devenport in Conversation

Where: Allpress Studio

Address: Drake St, Freeman’s Bay, Auckland

Date: Tuesday 21 February, 2017

Time: 6-8pm

Spaces are limited  – Please RSVP to nicola@allpress.co.nz by Monday, 13 February