At the Starkwhite contemporary art gallery, the two leaders were introduced to some of Pardington’s notable works. The artist is one of New Zealand’s influential contemporary photographers, with more than three decades of artistic activity.
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Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy Kiro (left) welcomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam to the StarkWhite photo exhibition by photographer Fiona Pardington in Auckland on August 13. |
General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his appreciation for the artworks’ artistic, cultural and historical values, and praised the role of contemporary art in preserving, revitalizing and promoting New Zealand’s heritage, cultural identity and nature.
He emphasized that culture and the arts serve as an important bridge for people of different countries to enhance mutual understanding, share values and strengthen bonds, he stressed, noting that Viet Nam and New Zealand have considerable potential for stronger cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation, contributing to consolidating the social foundation and people-to-people ties within their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Pardington’s works explore themes related to New Zealand’s culture, history, nature and people, featuring Māori cultural artefacts, museum specimens and native birds, including extinct and endangered species. Through her distinctive use of photography, particularly light and dark backgrounds, her works highlight the value of cultural and natural heritage while conveying messages about the importance of conservation.
She has received numerous prestigious awards and honors and represented New Zealand at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The joint visit by the Vietnamese and New Zealand leaders to the exhibition was a meaningful cultural exchange, helping deepen the understanding of New Zealand’s culture, history and people while underscoring the two sides’ attention to cultural and artistic exchanges and people-to-people connections as important foundations of the Viet Nam-New Zealand friendship.
Source: VNA