“But this charm was the show’s problem. At best, the works offered viewers a knowing chuckle; at worst, a smug grin. The collective effect confirmed the current dominance of a particular – and particularly strange – New Zealand aesthetic, a kind of lo-fi, apolitical cool that often seems finicky and far too concerned with its own looks to step outside its comfort zone. Its potential for fussy self-regard was reinforced by the lack of contextualizing voice: there were no wall labels, and the throwaway catalogue made no attempt to create links or frictions between the works.”
Anthony Byrt reviews the Wellington City Gallery exhibition Prospect: New Zealand art now in Artforum
