Virtual Opening: NZ Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Caren Rangi, Commissioner of New Zealand’s presentation at the Biennale Arte 2022 and Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa invite audiences to this special virtual opening of ‘Paradise Camp’, New Zealand’s presentation for the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.

On Wed 20 April at 6pm, the opening will stream from Facebook and YouTube

Yuki Kihara, the first artist from New Zealand to present at the Biennale Arte who is Pasifika, Asian and Fa’afafine, explores small island ecologies, queer rights, intersectionality and decolonisation in ‘Paradise Camp’. Curated by Natalie King, Kihara’s exhibition is told through the unique lens of Fa’afafine and draws on often untold, marginalized histories of her Faʻafafine community in Sāmoa, highlighting New Zealand’s historical and ongoing social, political and cultural engagement with the Pacific.

Join us for this virtual opening to hear from:

• Haniko Te Kurapa, Kaihautū for NZ at Venice 2022
• Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Arts, Culture, and Heritage
• Caren Rangi, Commissioner of New Zealand’s presentation at the Biennale Arte 2022 and Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa
• Professor Natalie King, Curator ‘Paradise Camp’
• Yuki Kihara, New Zealand’s artist for the Venice Biennale

Marking yet another first, we’ll have a live feed right into our Pavilion at Venice and an exhibition walk-through. Don’t miss the chance to get a first glimpse of ‘Paradise Camp’!

This event is made possible with the support of Auckland Live. Presented in partnership with The Big Idea. The live stream will be NZSL Interpreted, recorded and made available for those that are unable to join.

2022 New Zealand at Venice is an initiative led by Creative New Zealand Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, with key partners Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, supporting partners Pātaka Art Museum and Tautai Pacific Arts Trust. Special acknowledgement to pavilion sponsors Milford Galleries and Pātaka Foundation, and the generous support from the New Zealand at Venice Patrons and private donors