Exhibitions
Events
On display
One Man's Dream: The Britten Bike Story
John Britten, 1995. Photo: Kerry Walker
Film
Past event
Philip Carter Family Auditorium
Free
During the late 1980s, Christchurch inventor John Britten developed and built a revolutionary racing motorcycle.
Motorcycle enthusiasts the world over have always talked of designing the ultimate 'Super' bike. New Zealander John Britten did more than talk about it. He went ahead and built it – at home and by hand!
This is his amazing true story. From the backyard workshop to the screaming action of Daytona and the Isle of Man, this fascinating video captures all the drama – the dreams and the nightmares, the triumphs and the tragedies. It is the legend of the man from 'Down Under' who dared to challenge the might and wisdom of the world’s great motorcycle production factories and captured a nation’s imagination en route.
And it is the tale of the revolutionary bike that confounded the critics and took the world by storm.
Run Time: 96 mins.
Related reading: Free event, Motor racing
Exhibition
Great Britten! A work by Billy Apple
6 November 2016
Billy Apple blurs the line between life and art with a new installation that celebrates the triumphant, record-shattering 1995 campaign of the Christchurch-designed Britten V1000 motorbike.
Interview
Fly Shit on the Windscreen
In February 2016, Bulletin sent graphic designer and motorbike enthusiast Luke Wood to sit down with artist Billy Apple to discuss bikes, and in particular the Britten V1000. Designed and built in Christchurch by John Britten, the V1000 is the star of Apple’s new exhibition, Great Britten! A Work by Billy Apple. The following extracts were taken from the conversation.
Event
Hawkins by Rata Lovell-Smith
Join guide volunteer guide Susan Bidwell as she discusses Rata Lovell-Smith's Hawkins in From Here on the Ground on the first floor.
Event
Taranaki by Christopher Perkins
Join curator Ken Hall as he discusses Christopher Perkins's Taranaki in From Here on the Ground on the first floor.
Event
Sign Language Tours
Celebrate Sign Language Week and take a free guided tour of our exhibition highlights with one of our guides and a sign language interpreter.
Event
Oh Baby, It's Art!
A free, guided art tour especially for parents with babies. Buggies welcome.
Event
Art Safari
A chance for pre-schoolers to paint, glue, print, stamp and colour without making a mess at home. Art Safari is designed for our youngest budding artists between 2-4 years old.
Event
Late Night Tour
Take a free guided tour of our exhibition highlights with one of our friendly, knowledgeable guides.
Notes
#mygreatbritten
We’re extremely pleased to have Billy Apple’s GREAT BRITTEN! exhibition at the Gallery. A celebration of the ingenuity of the bike’s builder, John Britten, that blurs the line between life and art, it’s drawing bike lovers and art lovers alike into the Gallery in droves. And it’s pretty clear that, although not everyone is up for building a superbike in their garage, lots of you really love your wheels.
Notes
World-famous Britten superbike comes to the Gallery
The record-setting superbike that stunned the world is coming to the Gallery as part of a new exhibition by acclaimed artist Billy Apple, with a special sneak-peek event happening this Thursday 14 July.
Event
Introduction to the Gallery Tour
Take a free guided tour of our exhibition highlights with one of our friendly, knowledgeable guides.
Notes
Petrol Heads
On a recent trip to Wellington to attend the excellent Van der Velden symposium at Te Papa I saw the Britten motorcycle on display and was instantly reminded of one exhibition that was in the pipeline here at Christchurch Art Gallery prior to the big shakes, an exhibition that involved Billy Apple and the Britten motorcycle titled Great Britten!