67206 Days, 2276 Full Moons

April 10 – May 4, 2024

opening: Sat April 13, 3 – 5 pm

New Zealand Aotearoa has experienced 2276 full moons, ever since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in February 1840.

During this time, the Māori people initially faced a decline in their cultural identity, but they have since made significant progress in reclaiming their heritage and gaining public respect. Today, celebrating the Māori language is an integral part of New Zealand’s identity and is politically recognised as an official language. This rapid change still faces resistance from the old colonial antagonists. However, the New Zealand New Year is now uniquely determined by the alignment of the Matariki star cluster. This official mid-winter celebration symbolises the coming together and unity of the nation, respecting and embracing cultural differences.
The NZ jewellery artists featured in this exhibition contemplated themes of discovery, origins, integration, transformation, virtue, cultural respect, differences, and conflict.

‘6720 days, 2276 full moons’ was exhibited during the 24th Biennale of Sydney ‘Ten Thousand Suns’ 

ARTIST STATEMENTS:

Raewyn Walsh – My work taps into the elemental human urges: to collect, to assemble, to mark, and to adorn. 

Becky Bliss – Changing weather, water levels and heat are forcing migration in many towns and communities in New Zealand and around the world. I am using the Lego block as a symbol for displacement by moving and deleting the studs.

Aphra Cheesman – I collect traces of the encounters that have occurred between people and things, gleaning objects and materials that are worn or decayed; signs of their past, and their interactions with people.

Nina van Duijnhoven – These pieces specifically focus on the profound connection indigenous cultures share with the natural world which is rooted in spiritual, cultural, and sustainable practices.

Caroline Thomas – My practice is driven by the forces of material, language, humour and experimentation. I accumulate found materials around me until
new relationships suggest themselves.

Neke Moa – Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari, he toa takitini!
My strength is not mine alone, but due to the strength of many!

Nadene Carr – Sometimes when words are hard to find I use my alto egos. They can be from my descendants, characters I know, how I feel I’d like to be seen, unlabelled.

Sarah Walker-Holt – A crisscross of processes, local materials, environment, and cultures through 50 years of being ‘Kiwi’.

Mia Straka – Creativity can be a political weapon, to share, communicate and express in a non-violent way.

Images below and image above: by Docqment 

1/52-54 Stanley Street,  Darlinghurst NSW 2010,  Hours Wed – Sat 11-6pm,     P: 0293681142        www.stanleystreetgallery.com.au        E: [email protected] 

Sarah Walker-Holt (wall works). Nina van Duijnhoven (stands)

Sarah Walker-Holt

Aphra Cheesman

Neke Moa

Nina van Duijnhoven

Aphra Cheesman