Asia After Five — Vietnam's Art Scene in Conversation

Eager to learn about Vietnam's flourishing art scene? Join us for an insightful discussion featuring five leading New Zealand curators who just returned from an eight-day tour of Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. 

These curators, brimming with fresh insights, will delve into the dynamic energy of contemporary Vietnamese art. They'll share their experiences witnessing cultural exchanges, the connections they built with Vietnamese artists and institutions, and the exciting potential for collaboration brewing between the Vietnamese and New Zealand art communities. 

This is your chance to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam's thriving art scene through the eyes of these expert curators.

Our Asia After Five events are interactive. You will have a chance to ask questions, network with others and learn from informed experts on Asia.

This event is free to attend, but please RSVP for catering purposes.

Date/time: Wednesday, August 7th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Venue: The Kit at Artspace Aotearoa, 8 East St, Auckland CBD (A special thanks to Artspace Aotearoa for their generous support in hosting this event)

Meet our Panellists:

1. Amy Weng

Amy Weng is an independent curator and writer based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. She was the curator at The Physics Room, Ōtautahi Christchurch, from 2022- 2024. She has curated projects at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Meanwhile Gallery, RM, Te Tuhi and Window Gallery. She was the founder of Hainamana (2016-20), a website dedicated to Asian New Zealand contemporary art and culture, and the organiser of the inaugural Asian Aotearoa Artists Hui in 2017.

2. Dilohana Lekamge

Dilohana Lekamge is an artist, writer and curator based in Tāmaki Makaurau. She is the curator and gallery manager at Depot Artspace, an archivist at Satellites, and was previously the Gallery Coordinator at Fresh Gallery Ōtara. She completed the writer’s residency at RM Gallery and Project Space in 2023, has curated the exhibition The house is full at Te Tuhi, and was the associate curator for The Performance Arcade in 2021. Dilohana was a facilitator at MEANWHILE and her artwork has been exhibited throughout Aotearoa.

3. Melanie Tangarere Baldwin

Melanie Tangaere Baldwin, (Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine) is an artist and curator based in Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa, Gisborne. Her work is research-based and largely focused on Te Ao Māori, Mana Wahine, stereotyping of indigenous peoples and the effects of settler colonialism on notions of power, beauty and worth. She is one of the founders and current creative director of HOEA! Gallery in Gisborne and has curated Te Ara I Whiti for Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival since 2021. 

4. Milly Mitchell-Anyon

Milly Mitchell-Anyon is currently curator at the Dowse Art Museum in Te Awa Kairangi/Lower Hutt – having held previous positions at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, and Puke Ariki Museum. In 2020, Milly opened SWINE in Whanganui – a curatorial outpost working on writing commissions, artist projects and exhibitions at external institutions. She is a current trustee on the Whanganui Regional Museum Civic House, and the deputy chair of the Blumhardt Foundation.

5. Robbie Handcock

Robbie Handcock is a Filipino/Pākehā artist and curator based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He is currently the Kaiāwhina Whakaaturanga assistant curator at Artspace Aotearoa, a non-profit contemporary art gallery founded in 1987 by artists and arts workers. Previously he was a facilitator with artist-run gallery play_station in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and was public programmes coordinator at Gus Fisher Gallery in Tāmaki Makaurau.

We look forward to welcoming you!