15 Jan 2024
Matariki Williams (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hauiti, Taranaki, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) and Israel Randell (Rarotonga, Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu) have been selected to form part of the (re)situate Biennale Delegates Programme 2024.
This renowned international programme, run by Creative Australia since the 1990s, focuses on building international connections and engagement within the visual arts community.
For the first time, we’re supporting two artists from Aotearoa to participate.
Matariki and Israel will join thirteen other early-career individuals working in the visual arts industry selected from across Australia. The delegates are a diverse group of artists, curators, writers, producers, programmers, and arts workers.
Participants will engage with the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art (face-to-face), Yokohama Triennale (online), and the Venice Biennale (face-to-face). The program will facilitate exchange of ideas, catalyse new perspectives, and support the seeding of future projects and collaborations.
Matariki says she’s grateful for the opportunity to connect with other arts professionals in the international space.
“These hononga feel incredibly pertinent at this time,” she says.
“The literary themes of each of these exhibitions resonate with my interests as a writer, and I look forward to exploring these with the other delegates, and the artists and curators at each site.”
Israel says it’s a privilege to be selected and she’s excited to see New Zealand artists on an international stage.
“I'm also excited to be sharing this experience with Matariki – whose mahi and contributions to Māori arts are iconic and have contributed largely to my journey,” she says.
“This will be my first time in Europe so this will be a huge experience for me at this point in my career.”
This opportunity comes at a time of increased focus on international engagement and is anchored in facilitating career pathways for First Nations and Indigenous arts and cultural practice.
Amanda Hereaka (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa), Creative New Zealand’s Co-Manager, Practice and Pathways, says sending New Zealand artists as part of this programme is a direct response to the needs raised by the New Zealand arts sector.
“We heard our artists wanted more development opportunities overseas, so we’re proud to be partnering with Creative Australia for the first time to make this programme happen in 2024,” Amanda says.
“Aotearoa New Zealand has been presenting at the Venice Biennale for 20 years. This programme, along with the artists invited to be part of the International Exhibition, means there will be a record number of New Zealand artists in Venice next year – an exciting milestone for our creative community.”
Franchesca Cubillo, Executive Director First Nations Arts and Culture at Creative Australia says, “Leveraging Creative Australia’s commitment to presenting groundbreaking contemporary visual arts practice at the Venice Biennale, participants will develop their capacity to engage internationally and return their learnings to their areas of practice and the places and communities they are connected to.”
Media inquiries:
esther.lees@creativenz.govt.nz
Matariki Williams
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hauiti, Taranaki, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi
Matariki is a doctoral candidate, curator, writer and editor in the arts and cultural sector. Previous roles include as Senior Historian, Mātauranga Māori at Manatū Taonga and Curator Mātauranga Māori at Te Papa Tongarewa. She co-authored Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance with Puawai Cairns and Stephanie Gibson and co-founded ATE Journal of Māori Art with Bridget Reweti. Her writing has appeared nationally and internationally in print publications including Declaration: A Pacific Feminist Agenda, Māori Moving Image, Climates. Habitats. Environments., and online publications including frieze, Art in America, Pantograph Punch, and e-Tangata. Matariki is a committee member for the national Māori curatorial network, and serves on the editorial board of the Turnbull Library Record journal. She is a Trustee on the Judith Binney Trust, and former board member of Museums Aotearoa, and Contemporary HUM.
Israel Randell
Rarotonga, Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu
Israel is a multi-disciplinary artist, curator, writer and maamaa of Cook Island and Māori descent. Her art practice explores the notions of innovation as tradition through installations, performances and spatial activations. Israel is the new Curator Toi Māori at City Gallery, having spent her formative years curating at Whakatane Gallery, working alongside artist and iwi. Her recent projects include curating for the Circuit Artist Film and Video Aotearoa Mason Screen and Marinade Pacific Arts Journal.
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