Current

NOW CLOSED

1877 Gallery
18 March 2017 – 2 July 2017

Current exhibition showcased the work of nine designers and artists who were invited to creatively respond to specific garments from the Museum’s costume and textile collection.

Showing in the Museum’s historic 1877 Gallery, Current highlighted nine pieces from the collection, displaying them alongside the contemporary works by the artists, delivering a visual narrative on ways museum collections can inspire the creative process.

The artists were selected by a panel of industry experts. The selected artists were:

• Devon Smith – Illustrator and tattoo artist
• Flynn Morris-Clarke – Painter
• James Bellaney – Painter and muralist
• Jessica Leigh – Fashion label
• Kelly O’Shea – Contemporary jewellery designer
• Max Mollison – Fashion label
• Melanie Child – Fashion label
• Karen Taylor O’Neill and Elise Johnston – Three Cups of Tea Ceramics
• STEEP STReeT – Fashion label

The exhibition officially opened on Friday 17 March 2017, with artists and invited guests not only being the first to see the finished products, but also having the chance to sample an art-inspired, creative food experience delivered by Otago Polytechnic culinary arts students.

A number of supporting art and fashion-related programmes and events ran at the Museum during the 2017 iD Fashion Week and throughout the course of the exhibition.

Exhibition statistics:

19 651 visitors

18 objects displayed

71 days for the artists to deliver their creative outcome to the Museum

43 materials used in the artists' works, including sweet chilli sauce, diamantes and BIC lighters

9 digital touch screens displaying information about the artists' creative process and the Curator's commentary

1 central area offering touchable samples of materials provided by the artists