Contemporary Artists respond to Birds in the Canterbury Museum Collection

Using the Canterbury Museum’s ornithological collection as inspiration, contemporary artists address issues of extinction, conservation, collecting and preservation in this exhibition combining the old and the new.

Snare/māhanga explores issues around birds that are endangered, threatened or in serious decline through new works and installations of Hannah and Aaron Beehre, Barry Cleavin, Geoff Dixon, Hannah Kidd, Peter Madden, Hamish Palmer, Ronnie van Hout and Wayne Youle, alongside photography by Neil Pardington and Fiona Pardington and paintings by Bill Hammond.

Public Programmes

Artist Floortalk: 23 July 12.15pm

Panel Discussion- Buller and teh Victorians

4 August 6.00-7.00pm Bird Hall

Delving into the usually out-of-bounds works in storage in the Canterbury Museum’s world-class ornithological collection, the artists examined rare specimens and skeletal remains of extinct birds – including the moa, the huia, the Haast eagle and the golden kakapo, along with endangered birds such as kiwi and kakapo. The diversity of interpretations resourced from the collections of Sir Walter Buller, Julius von Haast and other collectors of things rare and exotic, is amazing and will be displayed alongside the original specimens.

Curated by Helen Kedgley

Wehi/Fear Ka Koriki Te Manu Handprinted photograph, 2004 Fiona Pardington.
Courtesy of Nadene Milne Gallery, Arrowtown.