Lovers and Castaways

Overview

A new exhibition has launched at the Pah Homestead as part of Auckland Arts Festival. Lovers and Castaways encompasses work from New Zealand artists produced in the 1980s, many of which were inspired by huge events of this time, such as the movement against nuclear weapons and the effects of the Hiroshima disaster.

The pieces are created from a range of different materials, including tapestries, prints, photography and collage.

Showing from Wednesday, March 6–Sunday, June 9 at the heritage exhibition house, Lovers and Castaways features work from some of New Zealand's most treasured artists. Art fans will be treated to Pat Hanly's work The Fire This Time, which was produced in 1985 and represents the time he spent railing against nuclear vessels.

Hiroshima Cloak by Phillipa Blair was created following her travels to Europe and America, with her piece exploring the learnings she experienced during this time. Other notable artists include Bill Hammond, Lousie Henderson, David Armitage, Dick Frizzel and Nigel Brown — just to name a few.

The curator of Lovers and Castaways, Aleksandra Petrovic, believed the pieces in the collection shows the shifting political and social landscape that New Zealand went through in the 1980s and how the artists of this time attempted to represent that through their work. Petrovic thinks that audiences will be able to see themes throughout the extensive exhibition that they will still be able to relate to in 2024.