The Big Auckland – Round 5 – The Art of Auckland

Auckland Art GalleryWith our visitors from way down south having an interest in art, it seemed that a visit to at least one gallery was a must. And if just one gallery then why not the biggest and best, the Auckland Art Gallery. The trip kept getting put back, thinking it’d be a good wet-day outing. And it did work out that way as towards the end of their week it was a bit wet and cold. With our traffic experiences the visit was carefully planned, not too early and not too late. And so it was that we fronted up for the first visit for any of us.

As befits an important art gallery, just approaching the building is impressive. And inside is no less striking.

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – the oujtside

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – outside art

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery foyer – inside art

Also impressive is the policy of generally allowing photographs of the art works, unless otherwise stated. This is a generous way of sharing the art.

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – this one surprised me as I’d not seen anything like this style associated with NZ art

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – a Colin McCahon

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – who couldn’t like Rita Angus?

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – one of Wyn’s favourites

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – one of my favourites. Reminded me of a hand-coloured photo.

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – I like Ralph Hotere’s works. Some people think anybody could draw some lines. I don’t.

The art is displayed with some sense of occasion and drama and it is fun to try to capture some of that as well. As well as watch the watchers.

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – watching the lookers – Laura and Andrew

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery – watching the lookers – Andrew and Laura

Eventually we’d traversed all the galleries and seen most of what was to be seen. So we retreated across the road to the coffee shop to digest it all. And then had a last wander around downtown Auckland, taking in the sights.

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland – Queen Street

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland – not sure how this all works

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland – taking a picture of Andrew taking a picture of me …

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland – Aotea Square

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland – Aotea Square

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland – the Sky Tower

Finally we were all worn out and retreated to the car and headed back. I had a cunning plan on how to beat the traffic jams. This plan got off to a bad start and deteriorated when I got us into a wrong lane at a crucial junction. So Plan B got implemented rapidly and we had the usual dodgem cars game getting on and off the motorway. I still maintain Plan A was a good one – it’s just that sometimes you cannot recover from a wrong lane choice.

Gallery of photos – Auckland City July 2013

Click on thumbnails to see full size. (And then you can click through them)

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