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Nicolás Paris: ko ngā herenga kei waenga i a tātou, lo que nos une, what connects us

While artist in residence at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Colombian artist Nicolás Paris ran a series of activities that used the gallery as a classroom, encouraging the audience to walk, think, network and exchange ideas.

Colombia & Aotearoa New Zealand

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Nicolás Paris: ko ngā herenga kei waenga i a tātou, lo que nos une, what connects us website

Nicolás Paris: ko ngā herenga kei waenga i a tātou, lo que nos une, what connects us. Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Len Lye Centre 2019

Nicolás Paris is a Colombian artist with a background in architecture and teaching. In 2019, he was the artist in residence at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth. During his residency at the gallery, he exhibited suspended structures and objects, drawings and native New Zealand plants. Nicolás used the gallery as his laboratory - he ran a series of public talks, school visits, video screenings and workshops with other artists to exchange and test ideas and educational practices, and to continue developing his exhibition.

The public programme included talks on gardening and traditional Māori healing by expert speakers from the Māori community Parihaka, which were accompanied by musicians. Nicolás views exhibitions as classrooms, where everyone is learning as a co-participant rather than as a teacher or student. People learn from those around them, as well as from the exhibition pieces. The gallery and activities become the platforms for people to talk, make connections and share ideas.

During the three-month residency, Nicolás worked with 38 different schools. Over 90 classes and nearly 2800 students visited the exhibition. Approximately 25,000 people visited the gallery and attended the workshops. He also ran a two-day workshop at Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery for tertiary arts students.

Before his residency, Nicolás visited New Zealand, with support from the Latin America Centre of Asia–Pacific Excellence. During this visit, Nicolás engaged with academics, teachers and staff at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and New Plymouth District Council to create ideas for activities, workshops and exchanges for the residency. He also used the visit to research areas of particular interest, including te reo Māori and native New Zealand ferns.

Nicolás’ residency was supported by Creative NZ Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa.

Published 02 November 2023