Uptown Art Scene

After 16 years sitting atop Crummer Road, Whitespace Contemporary Art has opened its new premises at 20 Monmouth Street, Grey Lynn.

Whitespace opened its new premises with Pacific Notion, 20 Years On, an exhibition of Pasifika artists, several of whom had been introduced to the commercial art world by gallerist Deborah White at the 1998 Melbourne Art Fair. It was heartening to see the change in appreciation of Pasifika practices after 20 years, from the almost non-existent representation of the 90s through to prominence in our largest awards, such as the Walters and Wallace Art awards, and strong voices in curation and art criticism.

Whitespace certainly embodies a large part of New Zealand art history. For July, the gallery shows us Masters. “You have to be very old to get into this exhibition,” jokes Deborah. “Mary McIntyre turns 90, while Ross Ritchie is the youngest at 76!” We look forward to seeing what new works these old masters have created for us. (WILL PAYNT, STUDIO ART SUPPLIES)

WHITESPACE, 20 Monmouth Street, T: 09 361 6331, www.whitespace.co.nz