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.

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.

The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre continues to lead contemporary art with its latest exhibition suite.

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.

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.

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.

Artists, experts, scholars, specialists and Len Lye film fans will share their insights on the artist and experimental filmmaker in a brand new series coming to Instagram weekly, inspired by the current exhibition 'The Absolute Truth of the Happiness Acid' (6 Jun — 1 Nov 2020).

This week, curator Mark Williams recalls the extraordinary impact of a Len Lye film screening had on both himself and the fellow cinemagoers that filled the auditorium at the sold-out event, and why it is essential to support the creatives who make these moments possible.

Read the latest post by our current digital artist-in-residence, Sorawit Songsataya.

Over the next four weeks, the artist will be "in residence" at their home in Wellington, sharing insights into the development of their new project through the Govett-Brewster’s online platforms.

Look out on Instagram over the coming month as we reveal more.

Artists, experts, scholars, specialists and Len Lye film fans will share their insights on the artist and experimental filmmaker in a brand new series coming to Instagram weekly, inspired by the current exhibition 'The Absolute Truth of the Happiness Acid' (6 Jun — 1 Nov 2020).

To launch this series, media scholar Alla Gadassik reminds us that Lye's work is not only to be seen or heard but to be felt and expressed (particularly in the body) and that by simply tuning in to the actual rhythmic and sensory effects, we achieve the same euphoric bliss as psychedelics.

Meet the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre’s current Artist ‘In Residence’; Sorawit Songsataya.

Over the next four weeks, Sorawit will be “in residence” at their home in Wellington, and sharing insights into the development of their new project through the Govett-Brewster’s online platforms.

There’s plenty to explore and experience at The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre this winter.

The Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival, after-school art, free tours and brand new exhibitions from international and New Zealand-based artists are just some of the highlights for the rest of July and August.

Visit the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, this coming July school holidays, for free, fun things to do for all the family.

Alongside our current exhibitions, the Govett-Brewster Shop, regular public programming, including cinema screenings, we’ve got the following free activities running between 4-19 July.