Auckland Art Gallery

It’s such a great thing that the gallery provides access to art for everybody through free entries.

The exhibitions are great. I especially enjoyed the Walters Prize 2024 exhibition, where the work of four artists who’ve been nominated for the prize. Their works are amazing!

What I see as more critical is “The Robertson Gift” exhibition, where the art from a New York ‘philanthropist’ couple is shown. It is definitely great, that the general public has now access to its impressive collection and I understand that the museum has no other option than to show its gratitude for this gift. But the circumstances underlying this are fundamentally wrong.

Art with cultural significance belongs to the public and it shouldn't be on the ultra-rich to decide where and if it is shown publicly. A strong democracy should be able to democratize access to culture.

Ownership entails obligations.

We should not have to be grateful that billionaires fund the arts and provide their collections to the public when their wealth is taken from the public, to begin with.

Nonetheless, thanks to the great work of the curators and museum staff that are behind these brilliant exhibitions.