Len Lye Tangibles: 1959 - 1961

Tangibles: 1959-1961 is the first of two exhibitions presenting a chronological overview of Lye’s kinetic sculpture.

Acclaimed for his experimental cinema from the 1930s through to the 1950s, Len Lye largely abandoned filmmaking at the close of the 1950s to join a thriving kinetic art scene. This exhibition presents original and reconstructed works from this important phase of Lye’s career.

Exhibition
<i>Len Lye with Fountain, c. 1960.</i> Unknown photographer. Len Lye Foundation Collection, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.

Len Lye with Fountain, c. 1960.
Unknown photographer.
Len Lye Foundation Collection, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.

Len Lye: Sky Snakes

Never seen before, Len Lye's Sky Snake in installation of seven swirling Sky Snakes.

A new large-scale kinetic sculpture from the Len Lye Foundation and Team Zizz!
Sky Snake is a dancing kinetic sculpture. A rotating, spinning chain creates harmonic wave patterns or figures familiar to Lye's other works, and traveling waves that move up and down the chain. A brass ball at the bottom end of the chain represents the head of a snake.

Exhibition
Len Lye <i>Sky Snake</i> 1965 (reconstruction 2019). Courtesy the Len Lye Foundation Collection. Photo Francis Vissers

Len Lye Sky Snake 1965 (reconstruction 2019). Courtesy the Len Lye Foundation Collection. Photo Francis Vissers

What’s On

News

A Taranaki Art Adventure at the Auckland Art Fair

 The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is proud to be the official museum partner of the Auckland Art Fair.

We're at the Fair

The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre and a number of Taranaki’s top attractions have teamed up with the Auckland Art Fair 2021 as its exclusive Museum Partner.

We’ll be presenting Len Lye’s iconic kinetic sculpture Big Blade outside the main entrance to the Fair on Auckland’s Waterfront from 24-28 February 2021, thanks to John and Lynda Matthews and Technix Industries.

To celebrate our partnership with the Auckland Art Fair, we’re offering an exclusive Taranaki Art Adventure package to Fair-goers.

New artwork by Maioha Kara celebrates the changing of the seasons

 Maioha Kara, <i>Salutations</i>, 2020, installation view, Open Window Gallery, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Image Bryan James.

What was, what is and what will come.

Salutations
Maioha Kara
5 December 2020 – 15 March 2021

A new artwork installed in the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery’s street-facing Window Gallery celebrates the change of the seasons from spring to summer and investigates the cyclical patterns of our internal and external environments.

The architecture of war and language of memorials

 Brett Graham's opening pōwhiri, <i>Maungārongo ki te Whenua Maungārongo ki te Tangata</i>, Gallery 4, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Image: Hayley Bethell

Tai Moana Tai Tangata
Brett Graham
5 December 2020 – 2 May 2021

A major installation of new artworks by Brett Graham, (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui) at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre, tells a cautionary tale of human endeavour.

Gallery Director Announced

 Dr Zara Stanhope. Image courtesy of Zara

Dr Zara Stanhope has been announced by New Plymouth District Council as the next director of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre.

Lens On Lye

 Len Lye, </i>A Colour Box</i>, 1935. Courtesy of the Len Lye Foundation and the British Postal Museum and Archive. From material preserved by the BFI National Archive and made available by Nga Taonga Sound & Vision.

Lens on Lye: Guest Spotlight on the pioneering artist and experimental filmmaker

Artists, experts, scholars, specialists and Len Lye film fans share their insights on the artist and filmmaker in this fortnightly series, Lens on Lye, inspired by the current exhibition The Absolute Truth of the Happiness Acid (6 Jun — 1 Nov 2020).

For our latest spotlight on Len Lye, jazz and visual media scholar Dr Nicolas Pillai, discusses Lye's synchronisation of music to the burst and swirls of colour in his direct films.

COVID-19 - Alert Level 2

 Len Lye's <i>Sky Snakes</i>. Photo Mark Dwyer

Kia ora koutou,

Following the Government’s announcement on the COVID-19 alert levels, and for the safety of our audiences, artists, staff and community, the Govett Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre will be moving into Alert Level 2 from midday today.

Read on to find out about the changes we have put in place, in order to remain open safely.

Please check our website for updates.

Lens on Lye

 <i>Free Radicals</i>, 1958, Len Lye. Courtesy of the Len Lye Foundation. From material preserved and made available by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Digital version by Park Road Post Production and Weta Digital Ltd.

Artists, experts, scholars, specialists and Len Lye film fans share their insights on the artist and filmmaker in this fortnightly series, Lens on Lye, inspired by the current exhibition 'The Absolute Truth of the Happiness Acid' (6 Jun — 1 Nov 2020).

This week’s blog comes from artist Anouk De Clercq, who transforms Len Lye’s lively, energetic scratch film 'Free Radicals' into poetic language, which seeks to create bodily empathy.

Candice Lin Speaks to Radio New Zealand's Standing Room Only

 Candice Lin, in her studio, Artist's own image

Ahead of their exhibition opening this Saturday 8 August, LA-based artist Candice Lin discusses how the themes in her collection, which looks at the history of plagues, viruses and blame, have been made uncannily relevant by current global events, on RNZ's Standing Room Only programme.

Digital Artist 'In Residence' Sorawit Songsataya

 Film Still courtesy of Sorawit Songsataya.

Our latest post from Govett-Brewster’s Artist ‘In Residence’ Sorawit Songsataya gives an immersive view into their forthcoming exhibition, which will open at the Gallery this coming weekend.

Songsataya is currently "in residence" at their home in Wellington, sharing insights into the development of their new project through the Govett-Brewster’s online platforms.

Shop the
Govett-Brewster

Len Lye Centre

Follow us on Instagram