One of New Zealand's most significant photography exhibitions, Handboek: Ans Westra photographs, a major retrospective of the work of Ans Westra, opens at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery on 30 July and closes on the 25 September 2005.

Westra, born in Holland, and living in New Zealand since 1957, is New Zealand's best known and most debated documentary photographer and was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998. Westra has captured 45 years of ordinary New Zealanders 'just being themselves' at work and play. She is known for documenting festivals, street scenes and well known dignitaries and particularly for her photographs of Mâori, the 1970s counterculture and protest action. 

The exhibition offers viewers the unique experience of walking through a remarkable photographic journey. The opening of Waiwhetu Marae features among the earliest photographs of the exhibition, which she begins with images from the late 1950s. Photographs of Ratana Church, Parikino Pa School, the Springbok tour demonstrations and James K Baxter's funeral are all recorded.  Westra took photographs primarily for school journals and book publications, such as Maori, Notes on the Country I Live In, Wellington: City Alive, and contributed to more controversial books such as Down Under the Plum Tree, and Tim Shadbolt's Bullshit and Jellybeans. These too are on display.

The section in the exhibition on Washday at the Pa, the school publication she achieved notoriety for in 1964, is sign posted with The Dominion's billboard of the time 'Author Angry at Banning of Book', and is well documented with letters to the paper, expressing views for and against the book.  Washday, while a distressing episode, was a personal highlight for Westra. She has kept in touch with the family and recent photographs are on view.   

Westra has chosen to record the lives of people who are not materially well off. She does so from a positive, humanist view of the world, reaching out shyly to understand people from behind the shield of her camera lens. Although her language is visual and non-judgmental, she believes New Zealanders should be proud of their identity.

'We should value what is here – the landscape, the lifestyle. We are so intent on trying to be like everyone else', she states with gentle Dutch vigour.

Exhibition organiser Luit Bieringa says: "Ans has recorded differences we often don't see, or are unwilling to see. She shows those differences, and their value, from a slight distance, and in so doing highlights them. That is how a really good documentary photographer makes a contribution, and the show will certainly bring this out".

The exhibition has been organised by BWX (Blair Wakefield Exhibitions) in association with the National Library Gallery, and is based on the Alexander Turnbull Library collections. A lively programme of related events accompanies the exhibition.

ENDS

Opening weekend special events:

Sunday 31 July 2.00pm: Exhibition tour
Join Ans Westra and Curator Luit Bieringa for a tour of Handboek: Ans Westra Photographs at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.

Public programme of events relating to the exhibition:

Sunday 28 August: Photographing on the Marae
In association with Handboek: Ans Westra photographs Whero-o-Te Rangi Bailey, QSO, will discuss photography practice on Marae around New Zealand. Free event.

Cushla Parekowhai at the Monica Brewster Club
Tuesday 30 August 6.00 – 8.00pm
Never mind Rose the rest will all be chiefs
Art writer and freelance curator Cushla Parekowhai talks about being Pakeha on the Whanganui River during the late 50s and early 60s with reference to photographs of her own mother and the people of Parikino in the Ans Westra Handboek exhibition. Cover charge applies.

Sunday 18 September 2.00 pm: Collecting photographs
Join Paul McNamara from the McNamara Gallery in Wanganui for a discussion on collecting photographs and some issues surrounding the cultural importance of photography collections. Free event

Sunday 25 September 2.00 pm: Documentary screening
New Zealand photographers discuss their work in the documentary, Visible Evidence featuring Ans Westra along with Marti Friedlander, Bruce Connew, Kapil Arn, John Miller, Fiona Clark, Gil Hanly and Tom Hutchins. Produced by Trevor Haysom and directed by Leon Narbey.  Free event.

Dr. Blake Stimson at the Monica Brewster Club
Tuesday 27 September 6.00 – 8.00pm
Photography's Nation and The family of man
Dr. Blake Stimson, Associate Professor at University of California, Davis, will discuss the transnational social imagination developed in Edward Steichen's monumental 1955 exhibition The family of man.  The photography of Ans Westra (recently on view at the Govett-Brewster) was deeply influenced by Steichen's exhibition, which travelled throughout much of the world from 1955 to 1965. Cover charge applies.

For further information or images please contact:

Cressida Gates
Communications Coordinator 
cressidag@govettbrewster.com
+64-6-759-6717