Kiri’s Dresses: an exhibition about an iconic New Zealander: Tuhinga 16

Tuhinga 16: 1 - 12

ABSTRACT: The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa) holds the significant Kiri Te Kanawa Collection from which a small dress exhibition called Kiri’s dresses - A glimpse into a Diva’s wardrobe was created in 2003. The exhibition storylines and interpretation were determined by the dresses and the first person memories of Dame Kiri and her designers. These curatorial and interpretive approaches are explored as a case study on an object/memory approach to developing an exhibition about aniconic person. Dame Kiri’s approach to dress is illuminated throughout the paper.

KEYWORDS: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, New Zealand, Te Papa, museum, exhibition, dress, wardrobe, memory, oral history, iconic.