As part of our Craft Curriculum series, join Carin Wilson and Justine Olsen for a kōrero on exhibiting furniture, presented in conjunction with He maramara tupu aranga: Carin Wilson and 50 years of Aotearoa design.

Led by Justine, the discussion will explore furniture in exhibition contexts – key moments, shifts and impacts – including kōrero around Artiture, Framed and Carin's exhibition at Te Uru.

Together, Carin and Justine will reflect on the relationship between furniture, art and exhibition making, before sharing their hopes for the future of exhibition making in this field.

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Carin Wilson (Mātaatua, Ngāti Awa, Tūhourangi) began making furniture in Ōtautahi Christchurch in the 1970s, after leaving law school to pursue a creative career. Since then, he has become a pivotal figure in New Zealand’s creative landscape, particularly advocating for Māori participation in design and urban development. He was a leader in the country’s craft movement in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, promoting dynamic discussion towards defining an aesthetic reflective of Aotearoa and advocating for the value of craft practice. Alongside his furniture making, Wilson has exhibited sculpture extensively, has taught at tertiary institutions and is founder and director of Studio Pasifika, a multidisciplinary design and architecture studio. Wilson has also held a number of leadership positions across institutions, including as founding member and inaugural chair of Ngā Aho: Network of Māori Design Professionals, president of the Designers Institute (1991–93) and president of the Crafts Council of New Zealand (1982–85). His practice continues to span different disciplines and kaupapa, including the 2025 sculptural commission Ngā Poutiriao Torohū and the further development of Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi.

Justine Olsen has worked at Te Papa Tongarewa since 2009 as Curator of Decorative Art. Her interests lie in exhibitions, research and publications centred around the transmission of design. In 2025 she wrote 'Towards Modernism: the Walter Cook' collection at Te Papa, published by Te Papa Press. Olsen was Curator of Applied Art at Auckland Museum between 1987 and 1993. During this time, she and Carin Wilson explored exhibition making as a way of understanding the meanings behind contemporary furniture; in 1988 Wilson led Artiture and Olsen initiated the Auckland Museum exhibition New Zealand Contemporary Furniture Exhibition.

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Objectspace’s Craft Curriculum event series is developed to accompany Carin Wilson’s retrospective exhibition He maramara tupu aranga, extending his work in advocacy and education around Aotearoa craft and design.