The Power of Portraiture celebrates the successes of New Zealand's history-shapers over the centuries. The exhibition encompasses 40 portraits of major public figures, male and female, Maori and Pakeha, conservative and liberal, from a number of different professional backgrounds. They all have a shared identity as leaders of this country, in a multitude of different ways: bishops and nuns, business leaders, Prime Ministers and Governors General, University Vice-Chancellors, military generals, judges, royalty and other public figures. Every portrait will excite the opportunity for story-telling, understanding and appreciation, both historical and art historical.The Power of Portraiture celebrates the successes of New Zealand's history-shapers over the centuries. The exhibition encompasses 40 portraits of major public figures, male and female, Maori and Pakeha, conservative and liberal, from a number of different professional backgrounds. They all have a shared identity as leaders of this country, in a multitude of different ways: bishops and nuns, business leaders, Prime Ministers and Governors General, University Vice-Chancellors, military generals, judges, royalty and other public figures. Every portrait will excite the opportunity for story-telling, understanding and appreciation, both historical and art historical.How we perceive leadership has changed over the years. The use of portraiture to reflect the image of 'power' and 'authority' has also had to change to reflect the differences in values and leadership styles.

Historically, portraiture has been integral to showcasing power, and power has been intrinsic in the portrait. The landmark Power of Portraiture exhibition interrogates this dynamic in a specifically New Zealand context. The aim is to fertilise the current renaissance of portraiture as a genre in this country, to foster critical dialogue about leadership and its representations in the visual arts and to inspire the public with the stories of its leaders and the beauty of its portraiture.

The Power of Portraiture is strongly interdisciplinary in nature, and insists on a broad understanding of power as articulated, justified, negotiated and/or confirmed through the visual medium of the painted portrait of a leader. Viewers are invited to critically engage with the portraits themselves which are presented here in an art historical context, in a leadership context and in a Maori cultural context.

Organised to coincide with the 7th International Conference on Studying Leadership (for the first time ever being hosted outside of the Northern Hemisphere at The University of Auckland, 7 - 9 December 2008), the exhibition complements the more academic insights of leadership by providing an alternative point of access for members of the public to debate and question the role of leadership in today's society.

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive catalogue, which will be launched at the exhibition opening by David Ling Publishing and available on the night for $39.95. It will be in bookshops from December.

PUBLIC EVENTS

Saturday 29th November, 1pm

Richard Wolfe, author of the newly published book New Zealand Portraits discusses works by key artists in the exhibition.

Saturday 6th December, 1pm

Curator Dr Erin Griffey, Senior Lecturer in Art History in conversation with Professor Brad Jackson, The Fletcher Building Education Trust Chair in Leadership (The University of Auckland Business School), and Dr Paul Tapsell, Senior Research Fellow (James Henare Maori Research Centre), contributors to the Power of Portraiture catalogue discuss aspects of the portrayal of leadership.

Saturday 13th December, 1pm

A discussion on commissioned portraiture with sitters including Sir Paul Reeves, Emeritus Professor Philippa Black (The University of Auckland Faculty of Science), and Dr Don Brash, chaired by Brad Jackson and Erin Griffey.

Saturday 10th January, 1pm

Martin Ball, portrait painter, discusses his portrait commissions and work for the Archibald Prize in Australia including his portrait of Neil Finn.

Saturday 17th January, 1pm

Dr Manuka Henare, Associate Dean, Maori and Pacific Development at The University of Auckland Business School, in conversation with Roger Blackley, Senior Lecturer, Art History, Victoria University of Wellington, on the imagery of Maori portraiture.

Saturday 24th January, 1pm

Richard McWhannell talks about the process of producing an official portrait, including working with Hugh Fletcher, Chancellor of The University of Auckland, and Don McKinnon ONZ, the results of which appear in the exhibition.

All exhibitions and events take place at the Gus Fisher Gallery and are free unless otherwise noted.

The Kenneth Myers Centre GALLERY HOURS

74 Shortland St Tuesday - Friday 10am - 5pm
Auckland, New Zealand Saturday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone: 3737 599 ext 86646 Closed Public Holidays

27/11/08

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