Episode Four

Inside the Jewel Box

In this episode we interview Hamish Coney. Hamish’s involvement in researching, preserving and shaping our cultural landscape takes multiple forms. Hamish trained as an art historian. In the last few years he has moved away from working mostly in a market-related context (after leaving his role as Managing Director for Art and Object, which he was in for 12 years). His recent projects are vast and fascinating. He is working with James Parkinson on valuing the cultural aspects of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. This year they are valuing its fine art collection (which consists of 15,000 artworks). Hamish works in building meaningful and significant collections for private collectors. He works as a curator, advisor and writer. In 2020, Hamish and Dr Keri-Anne Wikitera co-authored the book Hinemihi: Te Hokinga (The Return), which is a celebration of one of New Zealand’s most distinguished photographic artists, Mark Adams. The accompanying exhibition was at Two Rooms Gallery in the same year. In 2022 he was guest curator at the Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka for the exhibition Tēnei Ao Tūroa, This Enduring World where he again brought together photography by Mark Adams of the whare whakairo Hinemihi o Te Ao Tawhito and whakairo by its creators Tene Waitere and Wero Tāroi. Hamish is also working on several book concepts at the moment.