While we were sleeping

Who says nothing happens over the run up to Christmas? Impressively, Chris Saines landed the directorship of the Queensland Art Gallery (congratulations) • consensually, the popular choice award for the Walters Prize went to Sriwhana Spong (same) • surprisingly, Dane Mitchell shifted his tent from Starkwhite to Hopkinson Cundy • harshly, Peter McLeavey was informed he no longer represented Liz Maw or Andrew McLeod • doggedly, EyeContact published another 18 reviews and attracted up to 3000 visits a week • curiously, Te Papa conducted an online survey asking people if they have ever heard of the Aztecs and for marketing tips • pointedly, no-one from the visual arts appeared in the New Year’s honours list• curatorially, Te Papa announced it would be selecting a Warhol exhibitionfrom the collection of the eponymous museum • fashionably, Francis Upritchard featured in British Vogue • remarkably, T J McNamara was still writing art reviews for the NZH and sadly (and a little pathetically on our part), unbeknownst to us while we were in Shanghai Neil Dawson was also in the city installing a public sculpture (Feather from Afar)

Not so lookalike

The history of artists writing inscriptions on their paintings is well established in New Zealand and never more needed than on the streets of Dunedin. A OTN badge for the first reader to identify which one of the two figures in this Ivan Hill painting is Justin Paton.

Take no prisoners

“Winners win, losers lose. Shoot the wounded, save yourself. Those are the rules." 

Dave Hickey describing the art market as he takes his leave