Liyen Chong: Of Positions and half Positions

Liyen Chong: Of Positions and half Positions having several Marks at once
26 August – 29 October 2011

Opening preview, Friday 26 August, 5.30pm
Guest speaker: Naomi McLeary, Chair, McCahon House Trust

Operating from between the spaces of coming and going, Liyen Chong continues her explorations of the self and consciousness through particular modes of cultural production. During her time as the McCahon House Residency Artist, Chong explored phenomenology, Eastern thought and its implications for her practice in New Zealand. She presents the results of her inquiry in this show, which includes photographic self-portraits that document private performative actions, taken with the help of a self-timer.

Having grown up in both Malaysia and China, Chong migrated to New Zealand in her mid-teens and completed her MFA in Design in Christchurch. She moved to Auckland in late 2005 and since then has exhibited widely in New Zealand and Australia. Her work is present in public collections such as the Chartwell Collection and the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

This exhibition is run alonside the exhibition From Prague to Auckland: the photographs of Frank Hofmann (1916-89)

Public events:

- Saturday 27 August, 1pm
An exhibition tour with curator Len Bell in conversation with the artist’s son, Stephen Hofmann.

- Saturday 3 September, 1pm
Writer Riemke Ensing recalls her friends Frank Hofmann and his wife Helen Shaw, and reads a selection of her related poems.

- Saturday 10 September, 1pm
Artist Liyen Chong discusses her exhibition and its development at McCahon House.

- Saturday 17 September, 1pm
Critic and writer William Dart talks to senior members and alumni of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra about the APO’s formative years as the Auckland String Players with Frank Hofmann.

- Saturday 24 September, 1pm (Architecture Week)
In response to Frank Hofmann’s images of houses by Vernon Brown and The Group, John Walsh, NZIA Communications Manager, talks about approaching architecture through photography.

- Saturday 1 October, 1pm (Architecture Week)
As part of Architecture week, Hugh Byrd and colleagues from the School of Architecture and Planning will give a talk on the ‘Myths and the Maths behind a Low Carbon Auckland’ and a presentation will be on display in the gallery foyer all afternoon.

- Saturday 8 October, 1pm
A panel discussion exploring issues of the self and culture in a New Zealand context, particularly as it relates to new migrants from the Asian region, led by Vera Mey and Liyen Chong.

- Saturday 15 October, 1pm
In response to Frank Hofmann’s multi-disciplinary lifestyle, Gus Fisher Gallery Curator Andrew Clifford gives a talk on relationships between art and music.

- Thursday 20 October, 7pm
Photographer Yvonne Todd responds to aspects of Frank Hofmann’s portraiture and commercial work. The gallery is open until 9pm for Art Week. www.artweek.co.nz

- Saturday 22 October, 1pm
Anna Parlane explores the association between Frank Hofmann and architect Vernon Brown.

- Saturday 29 October, 1pm
Exhibition curator Len Bell discusses the implications of émigré artists working in New Zealand.

All exhibitions and events are free and take place at the Gus Fisher Gallery unless otherwise noted.

Event listed by gusfishergallery

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