Carried Away: Bags Unpacked

Who carries a bag? And who doesn't? What are the value and meaning of bags? Carried Away: Bags Unpacked explores the symbolism and power behind bags and bag-making tradition in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Curated by Grace Lai, it is the first exhibition in the new gallery space, Auaha Atea Nui and is a visual feast featuring over 150 bags from over thirty countries, with a spotlight on locally designed and made bags. The accompany publication serves as a visual catalogue and features an essay also penned by Grace that unpacks issues carried by the bag: of colonialism, the economy, consumption, gender politics, and whakapapa. Issues that remain relevant to not only museums and their collections but also to society today.