Past Exhibitions

Transit Of Venus

5 Jun - 24 Jun 2004

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Artists

Exhibition Works

I Know You Like To Think Your Shit Don
Reuben Paterson I Know You Like To Think Your Shit Don
I Know You Like To Think Your Shit Don
Reuben Paterson I Know You Like To Think Your Shit Don
Navigation Detail
Garry Currin Navigation Detail (2004)
Cook's Gaze
Garry Currin Cook's Gaze (2004)
Team Transit: Fiscal Forecast (2004)
Wellesley Binding Team Transit: Fiscal Forecast (2004)
Frenchmans Rock
Scott McFarlane Frenchmans Rock (2004)
Mahinepua Island
Scott McFarlane Mahinepua Island (2004)
Untitled (Transit of Venus) (2004)
Scott McFarlane Untitled (Transit of Venus) (2004)
Space Travel
Veronika Maser Space Travel (2004)
Out There (2004) detail
Veronika Maser Out There (2004) detail
Through Space
Veronika Maser Through Space (2004)
Oruarangi under the Matariki (Whenua Series 6) (2003/04) Detail
James Ormsby Oruarangi under the Matariki (Whenua Series 6) (2003/04) Detail
Mrs Cook's Cabinet (2002)
Christine Hellyar Mrs Cook's Cabinet (2002)
Transit 2
Michael Tannock Transit 2 (2004)
Transit 1 (2004)
Michael Tannock Transit 1 (2004)
Driving Toward The Morning Star
Michael Tannock Driving Toward The Morning Star (2004)
Venus Enters The Pacific (2004)
Sarah Guppy Venus Enters The Pacific (2004)
Discovering Venus
Sarah Guppy Discovering Venus (2004)
Venus Alighting
Sarah Guppy Venus Alighting (2004)
Matavai Venus (2004)
Darryl Robertson Matavai Venus (2004)
In His Hands (2004)
Darryl Robertson In His Hands (2004)

Exhibition Text

The transit of Venus is one of the most significant events in New Zealand’s formative history. It was this in 1769 that bought Captain Cook to the South Pacific and then to charting New Zealand. Therefore the transit of Venus has had an extraordinary role and impact upon New Zealand’s social, cultural and political circumstance and history.

On June 8, 2004 Venus will pass across the face of the sun for about six hours. This once-in-120 year event will be visible in Europe and will happen while New Zealand is in darkness.

A three venue exhibition (Auckland, Dunedin, Queenstown) is being held both to commemorate this very important event in our history and to provide leading artists with the opportunity to examine and consider this from a variety of perspectives, points of view and time-lines.

There are many subjects and narratives to be examined. For example, it reminds us that Maori as the first explorers of the south crossed the Pacific to reach these shores as much by navigation with the stars as through the use of wind, currents and tides. So the transit is a much larger event and story than merely that of science to New Zealand.

There is also something of an irony in the coming event in that on this occasion one of the most pivotal events in New Zealand’s formative history will not be seen from these shores but from Britain and Europe. The world as we have come to know it will be upside down on June 8, 2004.