Aotearoa Exchange is a performative presentation that opens SCHMUCKmuenchen 2026 at the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, on Friday 6 March. This project presents more than 40 wearable works by 20 Handshake Project alumni, animating the space with a dynamic alternative to static display and affirming the vitality of contemporary practice from Aotearoa New Zealand.
The project contributes a live, artist‑led intervention that emphasises collaboration, mobility, and shared encounter. Sculptural headpieces by Mia Straka and garments by Jessica Winchcombe form the core of the presentation, carrying alumni works that are activated through choreographed movement. Six performers animate the space, creating shifting, embodied encounters between audience and work.
Aotearoa Exchange affirms the strength of Handshake’s peer‑driven model—supporting alumni visibility, connecting New Zealand artists with international networks, and contributing a living archive of contemporary jewellery practice. It embodies artist‑driven innovation and a resilient approach to global creative practice.
Supported by Creative New Zealand, Makers 101, and the artists.