In Play
from The Arts House Trust collection

23 Sept – 29 Nov

In Play, a selection of works from The Arts House Trust Collection, explores the many ways movement, competition, imagination and ritual shape our lives. From the energy and spectacle of the sporting arena to the spontaneity and freedom of play, the exhibition considers how these experiences connect us, challenge us and reveal something of who we are. Featuring works by Gregor Kregar, Mark Braunias, Jacqueline Fahey, Richard Lewer, Michael Smither, and others, the exhibition spans artistic approaches, offering a playful yet thought-provoking perspective on sport and exercise and its place in New Zealand culture.

Mark Braunias’ large scale painting Black (1989) is a key work of this exhibition. The setting is a landscape reminiscent of an early Colin McCahon painting. Two men dressed in the uniform of the All Blacks rugby team are separated by a dense black panel. Their faces are composites of former All Black players and anonymous New Zealand men, resembling a police identikit image. The central panel is painted in glossy black, allowing viewers to see their own reflections and, in turn, implicating themselves in the social fabric of New Zealand’s sporting obsession.

The photographs Dais and Do it Again (2015) by Russ Flatt (Ngāti Kahungunu) are from the series Nationals. This body of work re-imagines Flatt’s experiences as an adolescent competitive roller skater in the 1980s. The series also alludes to present day concerns about notions of identity. These photographs encompass a range of genres and approaches, including reenactment and constructed identity, as explored by international artists such as Tracey Moffatt and Cindy Sherman, alongside photojournalistic and commercial photography. This series was captured at Skateland in Mt Wellington, East Auckland.

Whether familiar or unexpected, these works encourage us to reflect on our own experiences of play, participation and competition - and the enduring human desire to test ourselves, connect with others, take risks and simply have fun. In Play celebrates this complexity, reminding us that the spirit of play does not belong only to childhood or the sporting field, but remains an essential and revealing part of being human.

Curated by Nicholas Butler.

A fragment of the exhibition was shown at The Arts House Trust, Pah Homestead, during the 2025 Auckland Heritage Festival, to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1950 Empire Games, 17 September 2025 — 20 February 2026.

Visit Us at Morrinsville Gallery

• Weekdays (Tuesday to Friday): 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• Weekends (Saturday & Sunday): 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

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