Laura Chestnut

Review of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tam...

I really enjoyed this art museum. Particularly th...

I really enjoyed this art museum. Particularly the special exhibit, Body Laid Bare, from the Tate Museum but also the odd little hallways and side rooms with interesting small exhibits. And, there is a great cafe. The museum is free though the special exhibit cost $23.
The museum was rehanging their contemporary collection so I can't speak on those. The two large rooms of grand masters are hung in the style where the paintings are hung 3 or 4 high so you can't see anything very closely. There was a Pieter Brueghel the Younger piece which can't be appreciated in those conditions.
However, the special exhibit was excellent, and well curated, well worth the exhibition fee. There was an interesting hallway of old prints that explained the business of the print market when it first started. And another hall of video, one series I"m still chuckling about, showing maybe 15 screens of the artist holding his mother in his arms as long as he can over the last 15 or 20 years.
There was a nice children's area with some thoughtful projects.
I spent a couple hours at the museum, and then had an excellent coffee, soup, and almond croissant at cafe which overlooks the city.