Waikato Museum (Te Whare Taonga o Waikato) is a regional museum offering a blend of Tangata Whenua (indigenous) history, social history, science & technology and fine arts. It is located in Hamilton (originally Kirikiriroa) in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand.

This show is the first time Mothersbaugh's artwork has been shown in New Zealand, and is the first show featuring works from all three current bodies of his artwork: Beautiful Mutants, Postcard Diaries, and his Rug Art.

Waikato Museum is a large space with numerous gallery rooms and very high ceilings. The prints & rugs looked absolutely amazing in the space, complete with Mothersbaugh logos projected on the walls. To top it off, the Beautiful Mutants exhibit included a huge mirror set-up that enabled attendees to turn themselves into Beautiful Mutants.

Mark Mothersbaugh was not able to attend in person, but did create a short video greeting especially for the attendees of his debut New Zealand art show. The short piece featured Mark from his Hollywood, CA office in Mutato Muzika studios, where he talked about the artwork on display at Waikato, and his new paintings which have yet to be shown publicly. He also composed & performed a song especially for the Hamilton crowd. You'll have to watch it to find out the title. SEE THE ENTIRE VIDEO HERE.

A number of notable New Zealand locals were at the reception. Mary McIntyre, famous New Zealand painter, prolific of the Waikato region, Mark Curtis, another renownwed NZ artist, and Barry Hopkins, known to own one of the largest private art collections in New Zealand.

Milk Train, a great band from Hamilton, performed a set featuring a few DEVO covers at the opening reception party on May 17th. Their performance was followed by a dub set by DJ Michael Beere.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit such a beautiful country, and to meet such a friendly group of people during my first visit to New Zealand.

Thanks to Leafa Wilson and the entire Waikato Museum crew for putting so much hard work into this show, and for allowing me to be there to host it. The artwork is displayed fantastically, and you all should give yourselves a round of applause! Hope to see all my new friends in New Zealand again very soon.

Art from this show are still available for sale.
Contact me directly if you are interested in any Mothersbaugh art you see photographed in this report.

Click on the images to the left for full photos & more info from the trip to New Zealand.

-Michael Pilmer

Art Project Coordinator
The Visual Art Of Mark Mothersbaugh Gallery Tour '09