A Landmark Jewellery Exhibition Comes to The Suter Art Gallery
/The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū is proud to present He Momo, nā te whānau - it’s a family trait: The 2nd Aotearoa Jewellery Triennial, an exhibition featuring artists from across Aotearoa who explore jewellery as a symbol of intangible inheritance. Running from 8 March to 8 June 2025, this thought-provoking showcase invites audiences to consider how jewellery represents cultural heritage, familial bonds, and personal narratives passed through generations.
Most of us own heirloom jewellery tucked away in a box or wrapped in cloth, but what deeper meanings do these pieces hold? He Momo, nā te whānau delves into this question, featuring works created over two decades that examine the inherited qualities, cultural rituals, and ancestral connections embedded in jewellery. The exhibition challenges visitors to reflect on the legacies they will leave for future generations.
Curated by Sian van Dyk, Senior Curator at Te Manawa, this exhibition brings together renowned artists, including Andrea Daly, Areta Wilkinson, Chris Charteris, Grace Yu Piper, Jane Dodd, Jen Laracy, Joe Sheehan, Keri-Mei Zagrobelna, Matthew McIntyre Wilson, Octavia Cook, Renee Bevan, Sione Monū, Victoria McIntosh, and Warwick Freeman.
He Momo, nā te whānau forms a key part of Nelson Jewellery Week, a vibrant celebration of contemporary jewellery featuring a series of exciting events at The Suter, including:
Kahoa (Garland) Workshop with Sione Monū
A drop-in workshop where participants can create their own kahoa using real flowers.
Date: 12 April 2025, 2:00 PMFloor Talk: He Momo, nā te whānau
Curator Sian van Dyk in conversation with collaborator Renee Bevan, exploring the themes of the exhibition.
Date: 12 April 2025, 4:30 PMTriennial Jewellery Celebration: He Momo, nā te whānau
Visitors are invited to adorn themselves in their favourite family jewels and join in the celebration of He Momo, nā te whānau.
Date: 12 April 2025, 5:30 PM
RSVP HERESunday Floortalk
An intimate, jewellery-themed stroll through the streets of Whakatū Nelson.
Date: 13 April 2025, 1:30 PM
Sian van Dyk, a leading curator in contemporary craft and object art, has worked in galleries and museums across Aotearoa. Her research focuses on the everyday connections people form with craft objects, a theme she has explored internationally. In 2015, she was awarded the Creative New Zealand Craft/Object Art Curator to Munich Award, leading to the 2018 exhibition The Language of Things: Meaning and Value in Contemporary Jewellery.
He Momo, nā te whānau is a collaborative project between Te Manawa, The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū, and Makers 101, generously supported by Creative New Zealand.
