Encounters

Accessible, informative guide to one of Te Papa's most popular permanent art exhibitions. The portrait wall in Toi Art, the art gallery within New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, is the most popular art exhibition for museum visitors. Hung salon-style on dark red walls, its 36 arresting portraits span historical portraiture to contemporary practice, and represent mana. Some trumpet the status of European royalty, Maori leaders, or prosperous colonial settlers in New Zealand. Others advertise the skills of the artist. All carry stories from the past into the present. This handy book details each work in both English and te reo Maori and is the perfect souvenir of a visit to Te Papa and an ideal starting point for exploring questions of art, identity, and cross-cultural exchange.