Versace show for Te Papa
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by Ann-Marie Johnson
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The Evening Post, Wellington <\/p>\n
It was the dress that made British actor Elizabeth Hurley famous when she wore it to a film premiere.<\/p>\n
Now the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, wants to bring the notorious safety pin dress to New Zealand – although it’s unlikely Elizabeth Hurley will be inside it.<\/p>\n
It will be part of an exhibition of designs by murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace.<\/p>\n
Te Papa is negotiating with the Fondazione Antonio Ratti to exhibit a selection of Versace’s designs, which cover theatre, opera and ballet, as well as haute couture and pret-a-porter clothing.<\/p>\n
The Fondazione created the Versace exhibition at Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art. It is one of several planned events recently outlined by Te Papa chief executive Dame Cheryll Sotheran to Wellington City Council.<\/p>\n
The museum is also negotiating with Wellington film maker Peter Jackson’s production company Wingnut Films to develop an exhibition based on his Lord Of The Rings trilogy.<\/p>\n
The exhibition would open in stages to coincide with the release of each movie.<\/p>\n
Information presented to the council said the magic and mystery of Tolkien’s story would be recreated at Te Papa as a three-dimensional reality.<\/p>\n
The exhibition would also explore the new technologies being used to create the films, and the cultural and historical background of Tolkien’s imagined world.<\/p>\n
An exhibition looking at the 1977 punk revolution is planned, as well as a selection of works by the great impressionist artist Claude Monet.<\/p>\n
Art exhibitions planned include shows by New Zealand artists Ralph Hotere and Colin McCahon, and sculptor Henry Moore.<\/p>\n