‘Assume Nothing’ exhibition touring Aotearoa New Zealand

Assume Nothing is intended to challenge perceptions about gender identity.

The touring exhibition is based on the book of the same name published by artist and photographer Rebecca Swan in 2004. The exhibition features photographs and interviews with more than 20 people from New Zealand. They include such well-known personalities as former MP, Georgina Beyer – the world’s first transgender politician – and flamboyant performer Carmen Rupe, as well as activist and educator Mani Bruce Mitchell.

A collaborative work made between myself and Rebecca Swan is included in Rebecca’s touring exhibition which begins at Toi Rerehiko Moving Image Centre, Auckland, New Zealand opening on 23 January 2009.

The exhibition also features an accompanying documentary entitled ‘Assume Nothing’ by Kirsty McDonald from New Zealand, where I’m also featured discussing my collaborative work in Rebecca’s exhibition.

Kirsty McDonald will arrive in NYC in the next couple of days with her cameraman Chris Carter to document my work at the Met for an upcoming arts program ‘Kete Aronui’ to air on Maori Television in New Zealand later this year.

The touring venues and dates for ‘Assume Nothing’ are as follows:

‘Assume Nothing’
23.01.09 – 19.02.09
Toi Rerehiko Moving Image Centre
Auckland, New Zealand
www.mic.org.nz

‘Assume Nothing’
28.02.09 – 07.06.09
Te Manawa Museum Gallery & Science Centre
Palmerston North, New Zealand
www.temanawa.co.nz

‘Assume Nothing’
04.07.09 – 06.09.09
Canterbury Museum
Christchurch, New Zealand
www.canterburymuseum.com

‘Assume Nothing’
31.10.09 – 06.02.10
Waikato Museum of Art and History
Hamilton, New Zealand
www.waikatomuseum.org.nz

Going to the USA

I have an upcoming solo exhibition entitled ‘Shigeyuki Kihara: Living Photography’ curated by Virginia-Lee Webb held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York opening on the 7th October 2008, ending 1st February 2009.

I will be traveling over to New York city in late September for the official opening reception held on the 7th October and will be based there for five weeks.

During my time at The Met I will be participating in various public programes held in association with my exhibition. My solo performance entitled ‘Taualuga: the last dance’ is held on the 19th October 2008 and my artist talk is held on the 25th October 2008. If your time allows, I would love to see you there!

Apart from my work commitments with The Met I also have speaking engagements in New York at venues including the Parsons School of Design, New York University and CREA – a women’s human rights organisation.

During my time in the USA, a publication entitled ‘Role Models: Feminine Identity in Contemporary American Photography’ will be launched at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC in October 2008, where my work is discussed in a chapter written by Associate Arts Professor Shelley Rice from NYU.