International Art Centre, situated in the heart of Auckland's historic Parnell was established in 1971. For the last fifty years the gallery and auction house have exhibited, sold and promoted works by leading New Zealand and International artists.
Sanderson Contemporary performs the role of an intermediary, developing an ongoing dialogue between artists and patrons, allowing each of these vital groups to sustain and challenge the other. By supporting contemporary artists in their practice the gallery acts to build appreciation of their artworks and projects. This is an inclusive process, one that welcomes and educates, promoting the growth of the art community as a whole.
Parnell Project Space engages with contemporary curators and artists who have an interest in experimental and social practices, providing an environment in which artists and curators can develop their practices and expand their networks.
Curator: Jordan Davey-Emms
Jordan Davey-Emms is Te Tuhi’s 2024 Curatorial Intern, who is curating a programme under the name soft shell. Jordan’s programme takes place at Te Tuhi’s Parnell Project Space from June 2024 - March 2025.
The name soft shell references the tender bodies of crayfish and other crustaceans, revealed when their hard shells have been cast off to allow for growth. Jordan sees the internship as a similar short period for growth, located in Parnell where the Waipapa stream used to flow.
Jordan is interested in setting up soft shell as a flexible, friendly structure that supports artistic practice and community building. Soft shell will dig deeper into the themes and approaches Jordan experimented with at Wormhole Gallery and Studio in Edgecumbe: thinking about living inside ecologies; centering partnership and reciprocity; and playing with the sensory potential of exhibition making.
Soft shell is an opportunity to test this approach in a different context. How might a small-town-informed curatorial practice operate in the big city?
Föenander Galleries is located in Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. They also operate in a number of temporary spaces around the country. They provide a space to show a diverse range of practitioners, who offer meaningful insights - that connect people and ideas which define our time.