Wonderland

Celebrate the opening of Yayoi Kusama’s The obliteration room and participate in a day of performances, activities and music.

Explore the Gallery through another lens! Inspired by artist Yayoi Kusama, who sees herself as the modern-day Alice in Wonderland, Auckland Art Gallery and collaborating partners will transform our spaces into a magical wonderland for exploration.

Wonderland activities include:

Wonderland beyond the walls

Wonderland activities spread right throughout the Gallery and even pop up beyond the Gallery’s walls! Step outside with the whole family to create Wonderland-inspired art and crafts together in our amphitheatre at the edge of Albert Park. Or head up – and out – to enjoy the roof-top setting of our Tea Party Terrace on Level 2 where giant board games await ready to be enjoyed by you, your family and friends. 

See art come to life!

Together with Papakura’s Hawkins Theatre company, we’ll be bringing artworks to life. Visit our Level 2 galleries, stop by our south atrium and keep an eye out elsewhere in the Gallery to see how artworks can be animated through the medium of live theatre.

Wonderland performances

Join us for music and shows as Wonderland opens with a Pasifika drums performance, followed by eye-popping displays from bubble man, The Highland Joker, plus a special cake decoration experience from New Lynn’s Niu Cakery. Watch the Gallery come alive with sound and movement.

Wonder Garden

Our Ground-level Victorian picture gallery is being transformed into a Wonder Garden for the day. See and make Pasifika-inspired arts and crafts with the inspiring team from the Pacifica Arts Centre, and discover priceless Pacific and Māori objects from Auckland Museum’s amazing collection. Learn about the treasures of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.