Curated by Objectspace gallery director Kim Paton, The Way of Matter includes work 18 recent graduates from throughout New Zealand, examining new trends in art, craft, applied art and design.

As a survey of contemporary practice, The Way of Matter (previously known as ‘Best in Show’) “explores the tension and connection that exists between material making processes and the conceptual elements that might underpin artistic practice”.

“The show aims to provide a one-of-a-kind national overview of new practice drawn from the fields of contemporary art, craft, applied art and design.” 

Artist Melissa McMahon was inspired by the historically and culturally significant uses of urns and the convergence of life and death to create vessels that reframe the aesthetic possibilities of objects designed for this purpose.

There is also a full-scale, handcrafted canoe, designed and carved by Elam-graduate Floyd Perry. Floyd brought years of prior building with him to his fine art studies and sought to engage in sustained and large-scale process of making using hand tools.

The Way of Matter has been held at Objectspace each year since the gallery’s inception in 2004. The exhibition will take place in the Objectspace’s main gallery and vault.

Event Info

Dates: Saturday 23 April – Saturday 21 May

Associated Public programmes: The opening event for this exhibition will be held at Objectspace, 6pm on Friday 22 April.