Billy Tang will visit Aotearoa New Zealand as a guest of the Creative New Zealand Te Manu Ka Tau international visitor programme. Spending time in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (hosted by Artspace Aotearoa and the Office for Contemporary Art Aotearoa) and Ōtautahi Christchurch (hosted by The Physics Room), their programme will include a public talks in both cities and a roundtable workshop at the Physics Room (details below), alongside studio and gallery visits, and meetings with curators in each location.
Billy is a leading curator currently based in Hong Kong. He has dedicated his curatorial practice to advancing diversity, cross-cultural dialogue, and amplifying the perspectives of those who have been historically marginalized in the art world, particularly in relation to the distinct art ecosystems across the Asia Pacific region. Most recently Billy was Executive Director and Curator at Para Site, Hong Kong. He was previously the Senior Curator at Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai, and Curatorial Director at Magician Space in Beijing. Writing contributions have appeared in ArtAsiaPacific, Leap, Spike Magazine, Terremoto, and Mousse Magazine.
Events
A Lecture by Billy Tang (Ōtautahi Christchurch)
Join the Physics Room and University of Canterbury, Ilam School of Fine Arts to hear Billy introduce his curatorial work. In his lecture Billy will explore whether the languages used by institutions—behavioral, procedural, and structural—are large enough to accommodate the marginal and the forging of enduring connections.
Thursday 31 July 2025
5.30pm
University of Canterbury, Ilam School of Fine Arts Seminar Room
Free and open to all
Critical Laundering: a roundtable discussion with Billy Tang (Ōtautahi Christchurch)
Expressions of interest are invited for Critical Laundering, a roundtable discussion with Billy Tang, in response to the Physics Room's current exhibition Bootleg, featuring work by Abigail Aroha Jensen and Tamsen Hopkinson.
This discussion will draw on histories of counterfeiting, ideas of censorship and authorship, and parasitic or ad-hoc economics. Participants are invited to be in dialogue with Billy around these topics, thinking about how they might be useful tools for future or recent projects.
This opportunity is for curators, artists and other contemporary arts practitioners based in Ōtautahi. Please email james@physicsroom.org.nz with an expression of interest and a brief background to your practice.
Friday 1 August 2025
10am - 12pm
The Physics Room, Registry Building, 301 Montreal Street, Ōtautahi Christchurch
By invitation only - see above re expressions of interest.
Question time: a Lecture by Billy Tang (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)
Hear Billy introduce his curatorial work through the lens of the Artspace Aotearoa 2025 annual question “is language large enough?” In his lecture Billy will explore whether the languages used by institutions—behavioral, procedural, and structural—are large enough to accommodate the marginal and the forging of enduring connections.
The lecture will be followed by a Q&A
Booking encouraged but not essential
Thursday 7 August 2025
6pm - 7pm
Artspace Aotearoa, 292 Karangahape Road, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Free and open to all, information on access
This kaupapa is presented in association with Creative New Zealand, Artspace Aotearoa and The Physics Room. Billy's lecture in Ōtautahi Christchurch is supported by Ilam School of Fine Arts.