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' '''Michael Lett''' is a gallery dealing in contemporary art that operates in [[Auckland|Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland]], New Zealand [[New Zealand|New Zealand Aotearoa]]. The gallery was established by Michael Lett in 2003 and since 2015 he has been joined by co-director and part owner Andrew Thomas. ( <nowiki>https://myart.co.nz/story/gallerist-andrew-thomas/</nowiki> ) History Michael Lett opened his eponymous gallery in a ground floor space on the corner of [[Karangahape Road]] and Edinburgh Street, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in 2003. Lett had previously worked for art dealers Anna Bibby and [[Sue Crockford Gallery|Sue Crockford]] and was with the [[Gow Langsford Gallery]] when he decided to open his own business. (Henry Oliver ''The Curation of Michael Lett'' Metro  Spring 2023  pg 174 ) (1) The gallery was initially founded in partnership with the artist [[Michael Parekōwhai]] and opened with ''Dive'' an exhibition by [[Steve Carr (artist)|Steve Carr]]''.'' (Louise Poppelwell ''Art Space with a Difference''  New Zealand Herald 2 Apr, 2003 <nowiki>https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/art-space-with-a-difference/BOY7QWWEUDZF2OMELEH2LHWLHM/</nowiki> ) The second exhibition ''Views of Space'' with the Australian artist [[Hany Armanious]]  gave some indication of the breadth of artists Lett intended to pursue. (exhibitions <nowiki>https://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artist/hany-armanious</nowiki> )From 2008 to 2011 Lett was assisted by Sarah Hopkinson who has described Michael Lett as a place to see, ‘…serious exhibitions by serious artists.’ ( Henry Oliver ''The Curation of Michael Lett'' Metro  Spring 2023  pg 174 ) (2) Hopkinson, after leaving Michael Lett would go on to develop her own gallery presence in Auckland, at Costal Signs. ( <nowiki>https://coastal-signs.net/</nowiki> )  Lett has attracted other assistants who have gone on to make their own mark in the visual arts including Ryan Moore now director of his own gallery Fine Arts Sydney and Becky Hemus editor of ''Art Now'' and ''The Art Paper.'' ( <nowiki>https://www.the-art-paper.com/</nowiki> ) ( <nowiki>https://artnews.co.nz/</nowiki> ) Michael Lett remained on Karangahape Road until 2011 when it moved to a large space on the [[Great North Road, Auckland|Great North Road]]. (''T.J. McNamara: Good Reason to Tackle the Stairs'' New Zealand Herald 21 May 2011 <nowiki>https://www.nzherald.co.nz/</nowiki> ) Art critic John Hurrell described the first exhibition ''trans-cryption'' by the artist collective et al. ''as, ‘''an exciting exhibition to explore….’ and ‘a useful way of getting acquainted with Lett’s new space’. Andrew Thomas, who had previously worked with Hamish McKay in Wellington and [[White Cube]] in London, joined the gallery and later becomes partner and co-owner. (Mark Amery ''Michael Lett: Ahead of the Curve'' Art Collector Magazine 78 ''October-December 2016.'' <nowiki>https://artcollector.net.au/michael-lett-ahead-of-the-curve/</nowiki>  ) The increased space allowed the gallery to offer artists the opportunity to show large scale works and installations not possible in the more restricted Karangahape Road site for example the combined exhibition of Michael Parekōwhai and et al. in collaboration with Anya Henis and Samuel Holloway in 2013 (T. J. McNamara: Into the Depths NZH <nowiki>https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/tj-mcnamara-into-the-depths/NP6HUDQT34F2RWI4UOEBEK23WE/</nowiki> )  and Michael Stevenson’s installation ''Proof of the Devil'' in 2013.(Stevenson at Lett <nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2013/09/stevenson-at-lett</nowiki>) The gallery returned to Karangahape Road in 2014 siting itself on the bottom floor of an old bank building on the corner of East Street. (An Art Gallery’s Stylish New Auckland Home ( <nowiki>https://homemagazine.nz/cheshire-architects-transforms-bank-offices-new-home-michael-lett-gallery/</nowiki>)  In 2022 the gallery took over a hall next door to use as a project space. (Rose of Sharon Leake Art Collector 28 April 2022 <nowiki>https://artcollector.net.au/michael-lett-announces-new-project-space/</nowiki> ) The Methodist Mission Hall had been opened in 1909 and designed by Alexander Wiseman. (East Street Mission Hall <nowiki>https://heritageequip.govt.nz/funding-your-project/heritage-equip-funding/funded-projects/east-street-mission-hall</nowiki> ) Early projects have included a recreation of Jim Allen’s performance ''Poetry for Chainsaws'', (<nowiki>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333943160_Jim_Allen_Poetry_for_Chainsaws_Hanging_by_a_Thread_II</nowiki> ) Michael Stevenson’s installation ''Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop, Seating Proposal for a Grant Maker, (''Michael Stevenson: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop, Seating Proposal for a Grant Maker ''Collector'' <nowiki>https://artcollector.net.au/gallery-event/michael-stevenson-waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop-seating-proposals-for-a-grantmaker/</nowiki>) and [[Kate Newby|Kate Newby's]] installation ''Had Us Running With You''. ( Thinking Out loud Collector 24 March 2023 <nowiki>https://artnow.nz/essays/thinking-out-loud-kate-newby</nowiki> ) '''Artists''' The current list of artists (2023) represented by Michael Lett are: {| class="wikitable" |Anouska Akel |[[Simon Denny (artist)|Simon Denny]] |Oliver Perkins |- |[[Jim Allen (artist)|Jim Allen]] |Richard Frater |[[Séraphine Pick]] |- |[[Hany Armanious]] |[[Gavin Hipkins]] |[[Ian Scott (artist)|Ian Scott]] |- |Dan Arps |Zac Langdon-Pole |[[Sriwhana Spong]] |- |Steve Carr |[[Paul Lee (artist)|Paul Lee]] |Michael Stevenson |- |[[Fiona Clark (photographer)|Fiona Clark]] |[[Judy Millar]] |[[Peter Stichbury (artist)|Peter Stichbury]] |- |[[Stella Corkery]] |[[Kate Newby]] |Imogen Taylor |- |[[Martin Creed]] |[[Michael Parekōwhai]] |Kalisolate ‘Uhila |- |[[Julian Dashper]] |Campbell Patterson |[[Cerith Wyn Evans]] |} '''Exhibitions''' From the last show of its first year of operation, Michael Parekōwhai’s ''Kapa Haka'', five life-sized figures posing as security guards in the gallery’s street facing window, (<nowiki>https://michaellett.com/exhibition/michael-parekowhai-kapa-haka/</nowiki>) to  et al.’s 2023 installation ''I am the Direct Source of Truth'' that introduced itself with a waste paper bin full of bulldog clips (Elizabeth Eastmond The Direct Source of Truth: a Visit with et al. Art New Zealand187 Spring 2023 pg 84 ) Michael Lett has also demonstrated a strong interest in representing a wide range of work by important contemporary artists. The gallery has also shown an interest in promoting recent art history and first showed work by Jim Allen the influential teacher and artist within three years of opening. ( <nowiki>https://thebigidea.nz/stories/aotearoas-father-of-experimental-art-tributes-flow-after-passing-of-jim-allen</nowiki> Since that time Lett has regularly featured Allen who was 83 when he first performed at the gallery. The work exhibited was a re-creation by Allen of his performance piece ''Poetry for Chainsaws'' (<nowiki>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333943160_Jim_Allen_Poetry_for_Chainsaws_Hanging_by_a_Thread_II</nowiki> ) that was first shown in 1976 at the [[Experimental Art Foundation]] in Adelaide, Australia. Since then Allen performed and exhibited a mix of recreated and new works until his death in 2023. ( Conor Knell and André Chumko11 ''Visual artist Jim Allen dies, aged 100 Stuff'' 14 June 2023 <nowiki>https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/132309780/visual-artist-jim-allen-dies-aged-100</nowiki> ) More recently the work of Pauline Rhodes has also become a regular part of the Michael Lett programme. ( <nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2019/03/a-visceral-jostling</nowiki> ) '''Selected exhibitions:''' 2006 Martin Creed ''Work No 329'': Half the air in a given space. [[Turner Prize]] winning artist Martin Creed half-filled Michael Lett’s original Karangahape Road space with pink balloons. ( Andrew Clifford ''Bypassing the Thinking Process'' NZ Herald 10 Oct, 2006 <nowiki>https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/bypassing-the-thinking-process/EQSMJMRYJNOQ2ZKVCYDBIZ4QUM/</nowiki> ) 2009 Simon Denny ''Starting from behind (''<nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2009/09/aqua-mass-media</nowiki> ) 2013 Hany Armanious ''Set Down'' ( T.J.McNamara: Light and Illumination <nowiki>https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/tj-mcnamara-light-and-illumination/3LDNZCWDNPLSPNBIML7U63J6EE/</nowiki> ) 2013 Michael Stevenson ''Proof of the Devil ('' <nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2013/09/stevenson-at-lett</nowiki> '')'' ''2015'' ''Implicated and Immune'' (Kim Knight ''Artists in aid mission'' Stuff 2 February 2015 <nowiki>https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/65673294/artists-in-aid-mission</nowiki> ) ( <nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2015/02/aids-in</nowiki> ) 26 July 2018 <nowiki>https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/tempo-dance-festival-releases-2018-programme/UGX3XOIEBSUASSTOSSH3PHGKOE/</nowiki> ) 2016 ''Julian Dashper again and again, again'' A re-creation of an exhibition initially curated by Mark Kirby and Julian Dashper. In 2006 for Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History ( <nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2016/05/more-and-more-and-more-dashper</nowiki> ) ''2018'' ''Living with Aids 1988 by Fiona Clark'' ''(''David Herk Unseen Albums Document how Aids Affected Four New Zealanders in 1988  Jun 03 2018 <nowiki>https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/104259409/unseen-albums-document-how-aids-affected-four-new-zealanders-in-1988</nowiki> '')'' ''Giovanni Intra'' Documentation from Intra’s archives and a selection of artworks had  Alex Davidson comment in the magazine Artforum, ‘… these material products of his early thought do offer new insights into the bearing of his life’s work, and as such it is significant that they are seen here together for the first time. ‘ ( <nowiki>https://www.artforum.com/events/giovanni-intra-239743/</nowiki> ) 2019 Ian Scott ''Realist Paintings from the Late 1960s.'' Scott died in 2013 and this exhibition brought together a review of his early work. (Ian Scott Paintings <nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2019/09/ian-scott-paintings</nowiki> ) 2020 [[Douglas Wright (dancer)|D''ouglas Wright'']]'': the Envoys'' (<nowiki>https://2020.aucklandpride.org.nz/the-envoys/</nowiki> ''')''' Controversy What can only be described as Pickle Mania struck the gallery in 2022. When artist Matthew Griffin threw a pickle up at the ceiling of the Karangahape gallery where it stayed stuck as part of an art installation the action was not only reported locally, but also globally in the [[The Guardian]], ( <nowiki>https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jul/27/pickle-flung-on-gallery-ceiling-artist-asks-10000-for-mcdonalds-burger-ingredient?ICID=ref_fark</nowiki> ) the [[Daily Mail]] ,( <nowiki>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11016453/Michael-Lett-art-exhibition-Sydney-artist-exhibit-McDonalds-pickle-flung-ceiling.html</nowiki> ) The Times (<nowiki>https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mcdonalds-pickle-stuck-to-ceiling-is-5-000-art-slthz80gj</nowiki>) and NBC News TODAY. (Joseph Lamour An artist threw the pickle from a McDonald’s burger on a ceiling — and is charging $6,325 for it [[NBC Today]] 2August 2022  <nowiki>https://www.today.com/food/news/mcdonalds-pickle-ceiling-artwork-rcna40931</nowiki> ) '''Selected Michael Lett publications''' 2007 ''Michael Parekowhai'' ( <nowiki>ISBN 9780958283106</nowiki>) (<nowiki>https://www.thearts.co.nz/artists/michael-parek%C5%8Dwhai</nowiki> ) 2008 The Estate of L Budd: Catalogue of Existent Works ( The Estate of L Budd: Catalogue of ''Existant Works'' Michael Lett 2008 ISBN: 978-0-9582831-3-7 2009 Jim Allen Poetry for Chainsaws & Hanging by a Thread II Publisher: Michael Lett Publisher ISBN: 978-0-9582831-6-8 (<nowiki>https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leonhard-Emmerling/publication/333943160_Jim_Allen_Poetry_for_Chainsaws_Hanging_by_a_Thread_II/links/5d0dd9a392851cf44040e9f6/Jim-Allen-Poetry-for-Chainsaws-Hanging-by-a-Thread-II.pdf?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19</nowiki>) 2011 Julian Dashper: This is not Writing ( Julian Dashper: This is not Writing Clouds and Michael Lett 2011 <nowiki>ISBN 978-0-9582981-9-3</nowiki> ) 2012 ''Affirmation Dungeon, by Dan Arps'' '''('''Clouds/Michael Lett ( Book Review: From  Arps to Rediscovering the Renaissance Peter Simpson & Peter Wells NZH 31 Mar, 2012 <nowiki>https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/book-review-from-arps-to-rediscovering-the-renaissance/XHUXTCFDM4BW5WARSQ5GLMUX7Y/</nowiki> ) 2017 Anthony Byrt ''Simon Denny: The Founder’s Paradox a Compendium'' ( Anthony Byrt ''Simon Denny: The Founder’s Paradox a Compendium'' <nowiki>ISBN 978-0-9582647-5-4</nowiki> ) 2018 ''Fiona Clark:'' ''Living with Aids 1988'' ( Fiona Clark Michael Lett 2018 ISBN: 978-0-9582647-2-3 ) 2022 ''Imogen Taylor'' ( ''Imogen Taylor'' Michael Lett 2022 <nowiki>ISBN 978-1-99-115123-0</nowiki> ) 2023 ''Michael Lett Documents 2021–2023'' (Michael Lett 2023 <nowiki>ISBN 978-1-99-117273-0</nowiki>) References '''External links''' Official website www.michaellett.com ''In Pursuit of Venus'' References Lisa Reihana’s first iteration of in ''Pursuit of Venus'' was shown in 2012 on two screens in a display case in [[Alberton, Auckland|Alberton House]] ( <nowiki>https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/new-zealand/articles/a-walking-tour-of-aucklands-architectural-landmarks</nowiki> ) a heritage farm building in Auckland’s [[Mount Albert, New Zealand|Mount Albert]] built in 1863. The work, an 8 minute two channel video was a response to [[Jean-Gabriel Charvet|Jean-Gabriel Charvet’s]] wallpaper design Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique (Native Peoples of the Pacific Ocean) printed by [[Joseph Dufour et Cie|Joseph Dufour]] around 1804. The wallpaper was produced in 20 floor-to-ceiling strips with illustrations depicting [[James Cook|James Cook's]] voyage to the Pacific, Joseph Dufour commenting in an accompanying brochure, 'The purpose of the enterprise is to please the eye and to excite the imagination'.( Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique <nowiki>https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/explore-art-and-ideas/artwork/11063/les-sauvages-de-la-mer-pacifique-the-native-peoples-of-the-pacific-ocean</nowiki> ) In spite of the generally festive air of the content, and 'Europeanisation' of the indigenous peoples featured Cook death is presented, albeit in the background on one of the panels. ( Rebecca Rice The significance of the Dufour wallpaper <nowiki>https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/learn/for-educators/teaching-resources/venice-biennale/lisa-reihana-emissaries/significance-of-dufour-wallpaper</nowiki> ) Reihana recalls that she, and her partner in the ''In Pursuit of Venus'' project James Pinker, originally saw the wallpaper at the [[National Gallery of Australia]] in Canberra. (Joseph Dufour et Cie <nowiki>https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/126293</nowiki> ) After its initial exhibition at Alberton House, ''in Pursuit of Venus'' was also shown at the Van Loon Museum, Amsterdam (on two channel screen) (Suspended Histories <nowiki>https://universes.art/en/nafas/articles/2013/suspended-histories</nowiki> ) and in the [[A Space Gallery]] in Toronto, Canada (in Pursuit of Venus <nowiki>https://aspacegallery.org/program/in-pursuit-of-venus/</nowiki>) (<nowiki>https://aspacegallery.org/</nowiki> ) and AxeNeo7 in Gatineaux, Quebec. (<nowiki>https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca/listing/to-see-and-do/axeneo7/0pir</nowiki> ) ''In Pursuit of Venus [Infected]'' By the time the work was shown at the Auckland Art Gallery / Toi o Tāmaki in 2015 on a 26 meter screen the video had been increased in length and content, with extra cast members added and now shown as a 32 minute loop renamed ''In Pursuit of Venus [Infected]''. (Vivienne Webb Re-animating Encounter Art Monthly 285, November 2015 pg 21) ( <nowiki>https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2015/05/reihanas-infected-pursuit-of-venus</nowiki> ) Art curator Nina Tonga commented on how this format fitted in with Reihana’s ideas for the work, ‘the playback loop [acted] as a [[Möbius strip]]: a continuum with no distinct beginning or end, where the past, present and future have no boundaries” so when employed by Māori artists ‘repetition creates infinite opportunities for decolonisation and change” ( Thomasin Sleigh Te Hīkoi Toi: The loop of the moving image Stuff 9 July 2022 <nowiki>https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/300631700/te-hkoi-toi-the-loop-of-the-moving-image</nowiki> ) The final iteration of ''In Pursuit of Venus [Infected]'' , featuried First Nations Australians and premiered at the Venice Biennale in 2017 as the center of Reihana's exhibition ''Emissaries.'' (Dee Jefferson ''Lisa Reihana: a monumental, immersive new artwork reanimates the story of Captain Cook and first contact'' ABC News 31 January 2018 <nowiki>https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-31/lisa-reihana-in-pursuit-of-venus-reimagines-australian-history/9376114</nowiki> )'