The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery presents the sole New Zealand exhibition of Slowness, direct from New York, opening Saturday 23 October.

Developed by New York freelance curator Mercedes Vicente, Slowness examines different aspects of speed, duration and time and presents a range of international works that challenge mass media representation and expectations of contemporary life.

Slowness charts changes in time in an increasingly technologised world. Portable and digital broadcast technology supply 24 hour access to information and people. Work increasingly takes place around the clock and life in the information age is all about speed.

“’Slowness’ has come to represent something negative and down-time is under threat. The artists in Slowness produce works that slow time down, set the viewer a durational challenge, or simply reveal the destructive effects of acceleration,” says director Gregory Burke.

Slowness features work by: François Bucher (US), Ceal Floyer (UK), Cynthia Lin (US), Angelika Middendorf (DE), Oscar Muñoz (CO), Keith Sanborn (US), Wolfgang Staehle (US) and Alex Villar (US).

Slowness runs until 12 December 2004.

Also opening on Saturday 23 October in conjunction with Slowness.

Last lights features a selection of Laurence Aberhart’s horizon line works. The photographs are shot with long exposures over the last few hours of available daytime light, at locations around the world.

The effect of the failing light and lengthening shadows often creates otherworldly images. The French Surrealist Jean Cocteau considered this the best time of day to make images reminiscent of dreams.

Aberhart’s subtle Last lights photographs capture traces of the everyday as well as time eternal.

The consolation of philosophy, by Michael Parekowhai, features photographs that play with conventions and representations of Maori from a Western contemporary art perspective. Parekowhai often reflects upon his own Maori identity in relation to these topics. The consolation of philosophy, featuring photographs of flower arrangements, specifically addresses photography as the ‘art of truth’ and a means of recording history with veracity.

Parekowhai is one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary artists and has a major new work on show at the Gwangju Biennale in Korea.

Last lights and The consolation of philosophy close on 5 December 2004.

View is a prospective exhibition featuring the different styles of Taranaki artists Matt Henry, Tao Wells, and Mary Zurakowski. Matt Henry recently presented a solo exhibition titled Bloom at High Street Projects, Christchurch. Tao Wells’ work was included in the exhibition Practice at the Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington in 2003; and Mary Zurakowski had a solo show at the Centre of Contemporary Art, Christchurch earlier this year. View closes 28 November.