Toi Tu Toi Ora: Contemporary Maori Art Virtual Tour

Overview

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki launched its new digital exhibition platform during New Zealand's first with lockdown. Following a major exhibition showcasing original paintings by artists and schools of Japan's Edo period, art lovers across the world can now explore the groundbreaking Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art.

The virtual platform transforms the Gallery's exhibitions into a digital experience with an immersive soundtrack. Available on desktop computer, tablet or smartphone, the platform allows users to choose between three experiences, including a family tour with fun facts and art-making activities, a curator's highlight tour that covers insights and stories, and an in-depth experience with extended artwork labels.

Using navigation tools to virtually 'walk' through spaces, users can explore the exhibition via high-resolution digital images offering close-up views of artworks that relate to the Māori creation narrative. The exhibition is the largest ever presented by Auckland Art Gallery and includes more than 300 artworks exploring cultural histories, Māori knowledge, identity and place.

The project will keep the core of the physical exhibition alive as an experience long after the artworks have come down from the walls on Sunday, May 9. The digital experience is available in te reo Māori, English as well as simplified Chinese text with Mandarin audio.

Images: Virtual tour of Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki 2021.