An Interview with Dame Jenny Gibbs

Newly published on art platform Contemporary HUM, HUM’s own editor Pauline Autet speaks with Dame Jenny Gibbs about the forthcoming Venice Biennale and Dane Mitchell’s project for the prestigious international exhibition. As the commissioner of the New Zealand pavilion in the years 2001, 2003 and 2019, Dame Jenny Gibbs has unparalleled knowledge on the history of New Zealand at the Venice Biennale and provides insight into the changing attitudes of New Zealand artists practising internationally.

‘I think a lot of New Zealand artists grew up really only knowing international art by reproduction, particularly in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, like McCahon. And then around about ‘80s and ‘90s, Creative New Zealand and others set up international residencies, and art schools like Elam started taking tours overseas, and our artists became increasingly exposed to seeing art in person internationally.’ – Dame Jenny Gibbs. 

Read the interview in full here on HUM.

Image credit: Post hoc visualization, by Dane Mitchell for the New Zealand Pavilion in 2019.