by Ian Wedde

The Auckland Art Gallery's Natasha Conland is unafraid of controversy: she curated the et al installation at last year's Venice Biennale. So why does she think contemporary art's important?

Natasha Conland is the new curator of contemporary art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. She has moved on from Te Papa where she got straight to work in 2001 commissioning major new sculpture by Gregor Kregar, Caroline Rothwell and Derrick Cherrie. She replaces Robert Leonard, who has transtasmanned to the IMA in Brisbane. New Zealand's game of musical art chairs expands.

Before & after Venice - Courtesy of NZ Listener. Photo credit: Jane Ussherby Ian Wedde

The Auckland Art Gallery's Natasha Conland is unafraid of controversy: she curated the et al installation at last year's Venice Biennale. So why does she think contemporary art's important?

Natasha Conland is the new curator of contemporary art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. She has moved on from Te Papa where she got straight to work in 2001 commissioning major new sculpture by Gregor Kregar, Caroline Rothwell and Derrick Cherrie. She replaces Robert Leonard, who has transtasmanned to the IMA in Brisbane. New Zealand's game of musical art chairs expands.

Before & after Venice - Courtesy of NZ Listener. Photo credit: Jane Ussher