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An exhibition of five suites of prints by contemporary New Zealand artists, Tony Fomison, John Pule, Denise Copland, Barry Cleavin, as well as a collaboration between Ralph Hotere and Bill Culbert.

This new exhibitions at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, offers unique perspectives on the Gallery's permanent Collection.

Suites from the Permanent Collection is an exhibition of five print suites by contemporary New Zealand artists in the Burdon Family Gallery. Portraits and Personalities: Portraits from the Permanent Collection, explores self-portraiture, family portraits and portraits of New Zealand artists in the Monica Richards Gallery. Both exhibitions are drawn from the Gallery's 5,500 work collection.

Christchurch Art Gallery Manager, Public Programmes, Hubert Klaassens says the exhibitions allows visitors to experience familiar and little known works from the Gallery's collection in a new context.

'The Suites exhibition provides an opportunity to view how several major contemporary artists from New Zealand explore a range of ideas and themes, as well as a variety of techniques, within a set of prints,' says Hubert Klaassens.

Suites from the Permanent Collection features five suites, or sets, of prints by Tony Fomison, John Pule, Denise Copland, and Barry Cleavin. The exhibition also includes a collaborative suite by Ralph Hotere and Bill Culbert, which is being shown by the Gallery for the first time.

'This is also the first time that the Gallery has created a show focussing on suites of prints,' says Hubert Klaassens.

'There is usually little opportunity to view suites in their entirety in New Zealand, as many are broken up and sold individually.'