Main Trunk Lines

Exhibition date:
22 July 2005 to 30 October 2005
Location: 
New Zealand
Venue: 
National Library of New Zealand
City: 
Wellington

An exhibition celebrating New Zealand poetry from the past 150 years. Drawing extensively on the book and manuscript collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Main Trunk Lines samples some of the country's best-known poems alongside the more peripheral, experimental and surprising.

Collaborations between visual artists and poets have long been a feature of New Zealand cultural life. Photographs by Alan Knowles, Robert Cross and others will provide a composite group-portrait of the poets behind the lines. Works by Waiheke-based Denis O'Connor incorporate poems by Allen Curnow, Janet Frame and others. Further artists in the exhibition include Ralph Hotere, Colin McCahon, John Reynolds, Saskia Leek, John Pule, Fiona Pardington, Virginia King, John Baxter, Toss Woollaston and Michael Illingworth. 

Curated by Jenny Bornholdt.

Text extracted from the National Library of New Zealand press release.