What is a triennial?

The Auckland Triennial, now in its third iteration, has occurred every three years since 2001. Conceived as a major multi-venue contemporary art project, it is organised by the Auckland Art Gallery in association with other inner city art institutions. Since its inception, the Triennial has created opportunities for Aucklanders to experience the work of some of the world’s most influential and formative contemporary artists, as well as introducing them to emerging artists of note. All of this is working to increase the public’s access to new and innovative work, and to increase the potential for contemporary artists to reach new audiences beyond those with an existing commitment to their cause.

To keep that always volatile exchange between the experience of art and the construction of meaning as legible as possible, each Triennial is structured around a galvanising theme. Here, independent curator Victoria Lynn speculates on the idea of ‘turbulence’ as a cultural and political condition, as a prevailing atmosphere and as a metaphor of the contemporary world. She does so in a way that is critically informed and astute but not theoretically prescriptive, less paradigm more passion. Consistent with a raison d’être of the Triennial she joins New Zealand to the world, drawing the work of local artists, writers and curators into her task. turbulence is an important contribution to the ideas, the experiences, the memories and the conversations the Auckland Triennial seeks to generate.

To view past Auckland triennial websites please click here
To listen to the director of the Auckland Art Gallery, Chris Saines discuss  "What is a triennial?" click here (MP3 3.6Mb).
 If you would like to read a transcript of this interview click here