Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki has just announced the acquisition of represented artist Brett Graham's Wastelands (2024). Originally commissioned for the Venice Biennale, the work explores colonial histories, ecological concerns, and Māori relationships with the land.
The work is a sculptural reinterpretation of a pātaka (Māori storehouse), adorned with carvings of tuna (eels) that reference Māori food economies and the environmental impact of colonial land policies. Wastelands addresses the legacy of the 1858 Waste Lands Act, which impacted Māori land rights, including the ecological and cultural significance of the Waikato River and wetlands. It will go on display at the Auckland Art Gallery in May 2025.
This acquisition was made possible through the support of the Patrons of Auckland Art Gallery and the Gallery's collection development budget. Brett Graham says: "This work carries stories close to home so it is warming to know that it will remain in Aotearoa. I'd like to thank the Gallery and the Patrons of the Gallery for their generosity and faith in my practice."
February 26, 2025
