Behind the scenes: creating exhibitions and hidden stories

‘Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark’ is co-created with students from Wellington High School, which involved working together across a number of creative sessions. Here, Experience Designer Chloe Johnston channels her inner teen.

Conservator Paintings Linda Waters writes about what the back of a painting can tell you.

Rita Angus’s painting, Rutu, is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic portraits. Here, Conservator Paintings Linda Waters reveals some of the hidden histories she learned while preparing Rutu for exhibition.

Take a peek at how the galleries were built.

This portrait wall forms part of the Toi Art exhibition ‘Tūrangawaewae: Art & New Zealand’, which spans historical portraiture to contemporary practice, with art works that inspire and provoke, question and console.

Behind the scenes with the experts on famous paintings

In April 2019, Te Papa acquired a rare, early oil painting by William Hodges, artist on Captain Cook’s second voyage, titled Waterfall in Dusky Bay with Maori Canoe. Here, Te Papa tour host Bill Whelen reflects upon his journeys into Dusky Sound, and finding the exact location of Te Papa’s newly acquired painting.

Three-dimensional painting, thousands of fluttering, colourful strands. Hundreds of thousands in fact. Spatial designer Vioula Said and exhibition preparator Sam Wallis run you through what went into bringing it to life.

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Art collection manager Anna Brookes shares with us what she gets up to day to day and her tips for getting into the industry.

Wilhelm Dittmer, Taketake (Wanganui chief), about 1904, oil on cardboard. Gift of Alexander Turnbull, 1916. Te Papa (1992-0035-1686)

Hear the story of Auguste Rodin’s “Eve”, and the conservation work that went into making her ready for display, to tour New Zealand in 2019.