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Pacific art

The Gallery's collection of contemporary Pacific art is the broadest in Australia. With the establishment of the Asia Pacific Triennial (APT) in the early 1990s, the Gallery recognised the importance of actively developing the Pacific collection.

The Pacific collection, with an emphasis on New Zealand, reflects the diversity of the region's contemporary art, as well as innovation in customary practices. Primarily composed of works made after 1970, it includes paintings, prints and drawings, sculpture, photography, installation, textiles, weaving, body adornment, video and film.

Artwork Cooking pot this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 2015-01-01

Cooking pot 2015
Artwork Cooking pot with bat handles this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 2015-01-01

Cooking pot with bat handles 2015
Artwork Mopul with two female followers this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Mopul with two female followers c.1974
Artwork Birds this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Birds c.1974
Artwork Konyim and Deman spirits this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Konyim and Deman spirits c.1974
Artwork Mopul, Wain and his wife Yiripi this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Mopul, Wain and his wife Yiripi c.1974
Artwork Wain and his followers this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Wain and his followers c.1974
Artwork Our Creation (Omie) this artwork made of Natural pigments on barkcloth, created in 2014-01-01

Our Creation (Omie) 2014
Artwork in Pursuit of Venus [infected] this artwork made of Single-channel Ultra HD video: 64 minutes (looped), 7.1 surround sound, colour, created in 2015-01-01

in Pursuit of Venus [infected] 2015-17
Artwork Water storage pot - woman's face this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 2013-01-01

Water storage pot - woman's face 2013
Artwork Water storage pot - man's face this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 2013-01-01

Water storage pot - man's face 2013
Artwork Ralavon this artwork made of Tokatokoi headdress: shredded sago fibres, dyes, wool, feathers, dried fern over split cane armature and stick, created in 2011-01-01

Ralavon 2011
Artwork Ralavon this artwork made of Tokatokoi headdress: shredded sago fibres, dyes, wool, feathers, dried fern over split cane armature and stick, created in 2011-01-01

Ralavon 2011
Artwork Korumbo (spirit house) comprising: Mbai (Korumbo painted façade) Tikkit (Korumbo lintel) this artwork made of Façade: synthetic polymer paint on plywood; lintel: synthetic polymer paint on carved pine, created in 2012-01-01

Korumbo (spirit house) comprising: Mbai (Korumbo painted façade) Tikkit (Korumbo lintel) 2012
Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011
Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011
Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011
Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011
Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011
Artwork Circumcision ceremony drinking bowl this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 2001-01-01

Circumcision ceremony drinking bowl 2001
Artwork Cooking pot with bat handles this artwork made of Hand-built earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 1997-01-01

Cooking pot with bat handles 1997
Artwork Cooking pot this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 1997-01-01

Cooking pot 1997
Artwork Abstract Abstract (tan) (from 'Circle Records' catalogue) this artwork made of Vinyl record and cardboard cover, created in 1998-01-01

Abstract Abstract (tan) (from 'Circle Records' catalogue) 1998
Artwork Europe (from 'Circle Records' catalogue) this artwork made of Vinyl record and cardboard cover, created in 2000-01-01

Europe (from 'Circle Records' catalogue) 2000
Artwork Thin Ice (from 'Circle Records' catalogue) this artwork made of Vinyl record and cardboard cover, created in 2000-01-01

Thin Ice (from 'Circle Records' catalogue) 2000
Artwork Couronne du Roi (The King's crown) this artwork made of Tifaifai, quilt: commercial cotton cloth and thread in appliqué and embroidered technique, created in 2003-01-01

Couronne du Roi (The King's crown) 2003
Artwork Tua Wha (no. 4 from 'Patriot: Ten guitars' series) this artwork made of Guitar (flame maple, spruce, Rewarewa, swamp Kauri, ebony and paua shell), stand and DVD: 2:35 minutes, black and white, sound, created in 1999-01-01

Tua Wha (no. 4 from 'Patriot: Ten guitars' series) 1999
Artwork Urohs dereht (thread skirt) with yellow and pink flowers this artwork made of Poly-cotton machine embroidery on cotton with acetate, created in 2021-01-01

Urohs dereht (thread skirt) with yellow and pink flowers 2021
Artwork Urohs dereht (thread skirt) with orange ngarangar (coconut shell for sakau drinking) and ‘tribal’ mwahi (design) this artwork made of Poly-cotton machine embroidery on cotton with acetate, created in 2021-01-01

Urohs dereht (thread skirt) with orange ngarangar (coconut shell for sakau drinking) and ‘tribal’ mwahi (design) 2021
Artwork Reverse appliqué and urohs dereht (thread skirt) with wehi (turtle) and stingray mwahi (design) with red hibiscus flowers and seir en wahi (fragrant head garland) this artwork made of Poly-cotton machine embroidery on cotton with acetate, created in 2021-01-01

Reverse appliqué and urohs dereht (thread skirt) with wehi (turtle) and stingray mwahi (design) with red hibiscus flowers and seir en wahi (fragrant head garland) 2021