Beehive Art and Objects Tour: The Curator’s Perspective (i)

Join us for this unique 2-hour exploration of the iconic parliamentary buildings, focusing on the diverse artworks and objects that adorn their walls and spaces. Led by the Curator of the Parliamentary Collection, Natasha Fernandez, this tour is the perfect way to get to know the hidden gems of the collection and see some of Aotearoa’s most significant artworks by leading artists, past and present.

This tour will focus on some of the textiles in the Collection, namely Forest in the Sun by designed by Guy Ngan in collaboration with renowned textile artist Joan Calvert, and restored by Te Papa Textiles Conservator Anne Peranteau in 2019, who will speak about its conservation process at our Friends event on April 17.  We will also see Whanaungatanga: Relationships by Malcolm Harrison 1994-1995, along with other textile art pieces in the collection.

The tour ends with a visit to Te Papakura Art gallery — Parliament’s dedicated exhibition space in the Beehive, which is currently showing An Illustrated History.

Group size is limited to 15.

Natasha Fernandez has been the Curator of the Parliamentary Collection for over 5 years. She spent the first 20 years of her career as a designer and then retrained at Victoria University to begin her new career in the museum and art sector. Her role is incredibly diverse and involves conservation, curation, and public engagement. The unique challenges of working in an environment that is not dedicated to art and object make for an exciting, and sometimes unusual, day.

Photo credits: Natasha Fernandez/Parliamentary Service. Featured Above: Garden in the Sun, Guy Ngan. Right: Whanaungatanga: Relationships by Malcolm Harrison, Left: The Whitebaiter, detail from Whanaungatanga: Relationships by Malcolm Harrison