Ans Westra 2024

For the final three months of 2024, {Suite} Wellington will celebrate the life and work of the late Ans Westra with a series of exhibitions and community initiatives. On show will be a large amount of previously unseen material, aligning with a public programme of talks and events relating to Ans’ work and a city-wide campaign to identify more people portrayed in her 64 years of social documentary photography. Dutch-born Ans is best known for her images depicting life in Aotearoa New Zealand and in particular te ao Māori; her photographic catalogue is now widely thought of as a photo album of the nation. Less well known is her international work made in the 1960's and 1980's, and images of the landscape made in the 2000's.  
  • October - Learning and Education October will focus on Ans’ significant contribution to learning and education in Aotearoa New Zealand....

    October - Learning and Education

     

    October will focus on Ans’ significant contribution to learning and education in Aotearoa New Zealand. The breadth and range of her work is exemplified by the three school publications on exhibit: 

    Viliami of the Friendly Islands (1963): 3-10 October

    Holiday in the Capital (1968): 11-19 October 

    Children of Holland (1969): 25-31 October 

     

    On 9 October, {Suite} hosts a panel discussion on Ans’ contribution to learning and her impact on New Zealand education. Featuring recently appointed Race Relations Conciliator, Doctor Melissa Derby, Professor Paul Moon, author of Ans Westra: A Life in Photography and moderated by writer, curator, producer Mark Amery.


    To read more about these exhibitions and to RSVP for the panel discussion click here. 

  • November – Global Views On show from 1-20 November will be photographs from two significant bodies of work made when...

    November – Global Views


    On show from 1-20 November will be photographs from two significant bodies of work made when Ans travelled to the Philippines, and in New York City in the mid-eighties:


    New York City (1987): 1-10 November

    The Philippines (1986): 11-20 November 


    To accompany the New York City exhibition, and commenting on our place in the world, International Legal Academic, Doctor Alexander Gillespie will give a talk at {Suite} on 7 November, just days after the US election, discussing the result, and the implications for New Zealand. Introduced by {Suite} Director David Alsop.  

     

    To read more about these exhibitions and to RSVP for Alexander's talk click here.
  • December - Nō hea koe? Ko wai koe? Ans’ vast image archive is now housed on the National Library of...

    December - Nō hea koe? Ko wai koe?

    Ans’ vast image archive is now housed on the National Library of New Zealand's website together with catalogued details of locations, dates and people portrayed in the images where known. 

    We welcome artist Suzanne Tamaki, Māori Arts and Events Facilitator at Wellington City Council, to lead Nō hea koe? Ko wai koe?, a community campaign around Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington to identify more people in Ans’ photos.  

    On 21 November, Ans’ daughter Lisa van Hulst will introduce a korero at {Suite} about the Nō hea koe? Ko wai koe? project with National Library of New Zealand Photography Curator, Doctor Louise Garret, Research Librarian, Pacific, Suliana Vea, and Suzanne Tamaki. On 19 December {Suite} will host a community morning tea to conclude the project.

     

    To read more about this project and to RSVP to attend the korero and/or morning tea click here.

     
  • Introducing the Ans Westra Vault Following her passing last year, Ans’ work and archive is now housed in a large...

    Introducing the Ans Westra Vault

     

    Following her passing last year, Ans’ work and archive is now housed in a large vault within a large vault in a historical building in Central Wellington. This is accessible for both art and educational purposes. 

     

    {Suite} will host a limited number of tours to the Ans Westra Vault during October - December.

     

    To learn more about the space and to register to attend a tour click here.