Pay a visit to the World of WearableArt Museum in Nelson – an extravaganza of artistic license designed to adorn the human form – and you’ll be confronted with the full force of New Zealand creativity. New Zealand’s artistic identity has been evolving from the earliest days of human settlement, when Maori developed powerful artistic forms in the carving of bone, stone, wood and shell, and in weaving fibres.

When European settlers arrived, the newness of the country often meant that artworks were tinged with romanticism and nostalgia for the British ‘homeland’. But in the twentieth century, as New Zealand grew in cultural confidence, more original artists appeared. Realism and honesty about New Zealand life became dominant themes and artists like Rita Angus, Colin McCahon and Toss Woolaston came to prominence. In recent years, artists have woven a unique blend of histories and cultures, themes and styles, reflecting the diversity of New Zealand society.