Ocula Conversation Jess Johnson: Worlds Within Worlds Geometric patterns, anthropomorphic characters, architectural spatial environments, and relics of the ancient world appear throughout Jess Johnson's artworks.Johnson's solo art-ventures began in drawing, but her long-term collaborative relationship with animator Simon Ward brings her drawings to life in videos and virtual reality. The animator has...
Ocula Conversation Melati Suryodarmo: Performance Art as Trigger In 2012, Melati Suryodarmo opened Studio Plesungan in her native Surakarta, also known as Solo, the historic royal capital of the Mataram Empire of Java in Indonesia. Suryodarmo had returned to Indonesia from Germany, where she studied Butoh and choreography with Butoh dancer and choreographer Anzu Furukawa, time-based media with avantgarde...
Ocula Report Lagos Biennial 2019: Stories from Africa’s most Populous City 15 Nov 2019 : Jareh Das for Ocula Under the direction of Folakunle Oshun, the second edition of the Lagos Biennial (26 October–23 November 2019) includes works by over 40 Lagos-based and international artists, architects, and collectives. Curated by architect Tosin Oshinowo, curator and producer Oyindamola Fakeye, and assistant curator of photography at the Art Institute of...
Ocula Insight | Video Hans Hartung and Art Informel at Mazzoleni London (1 October 2019-18 January 2020) presents key works by the French-German painter while highlighting his connection with artists active in Paris during the 50s and 60s. In this video, writer and historian Alan Montgomery discusses Hartung's practice and its legacy.Born in Leipzig in 1904, Hans...
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery is West Auckland's regional gallery, operated by Lopdell House Society with core operational funding from Auckland Council through the Waitakere Ranges Local Board. We aim to present a contemporary exhibition programme that reflects and strengthens the full diversity of cultural identities, interests and potential of our community.
Since 1986, the gallery has been sited in the historic Lopdell House, located in the heart of Titirangi, gateway to the Waitakere rain forest and Auckland's west coast beaches. From 2012, during an extensive redevelopment programme, the gallery delivered exhibitions and outreach style programmes from a temporary base in nearby New Lynn. We reopened in new purpose-built facilities alongside Lopdell House on Saturday 1 November 2014.
Our name, Te Uru, makes reference to Te Hau a Uru, the wind that blows from the west, a powerful characteristic of the region and an important story for local iwi, Te Kawerau ā Maki, who have bestowed us with this new kaupapa. It shares the messages and vision of the people that live in the west, brings change, sets direction and influences Auckland City from its mountainous perch atop the Great Forest of Tiriwa. Te Uru will be a source of information and ideas that will project out into the region - a fitting framework for a contemporary gallery. The new name was launched at a special members' meeting in April 2014.
Photos: Sam Harnett
Ocula Report Auckland Art Shows to See: The Lowdown 27 Apr 2019 : Sherry Paik for Ocula This year, the month of May kicks off with the annual Auckland Art Fair (2–5 May 2019) at The Cloud on Queens Wharf, where over 40 leading galleries from the Pacific Rim will exhibit. A carefully curated selection of talks and exhibitions will accompany the fair, including the 2019 Projects Programme organised by Francis McWhannell titled...
