Works from the collection celebrate women's suffrage at Whanganui's Sarjeant Gallery

Ans Westra, Nurses' Protest, Wanganui Base Hospital ,1993, toned black & white photograph. Gift of the artist, 1996.

Whanganui's Sarjeant Gallery have opened its new season with 125: Celebrating Women from the Collection.

The Sarjeant's collection is not alone in its gender imbalance, and male artists far out-weigh the female.

In this exhibition, that imbalance is addressed with 125 works from the collection including a number of notable works by women including Robyn Kahukiwa's powerful 2 metre-high painting from 1985 - 'He Toa Takitahi (He Whakatauaki: E hara toa i te toa takitahi engari takimano no aku tipuna – ( My strength is not individual, it is collective).

Also featured is Whanganui painter Edith Collier who, as an art student in London at the outbreak of WWI was an observer of the efforts of English women to be of service.

In 1999 art historian Joanne Drayton noted Collier's circa 1917-1918 painting Ministry of Labour – The Recruiting Office for Women "depicts a group of women waiting to offer their labour for tasks and employment associated with the war effort. This subject matter is unique, not only in Edith's oeuvre but also in the work of contemporary painters of this period."

This work features in the exhibition, as well as a selection of Collier's portraits of women, called "Edith Collier: Ahead of her Time", which is on view until November 4.

One of the strengths of the Sarjeant's collection has been its focus on collecting
photography.

Contemporary photographic practice by women is represented in 125: Celebrating Women from the Collection with works by Anne Noble, Megan Jenkinson and Ans Westra, alongside more recent examples by a new generation of photographers, such as Liyen Chong, Yvonne Todd and Roberta Thornley.

The exhibition features intimate portraits, personal ephemera, and illustrations of traditional roles of women through to challenging and bold statements of identity.

Celebrating Women from the Collection: An exhibition of works from the Sarjeant's permanent collection, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the suffrage movement, is open for viewing until February 17, 2019.

Edith Collier: Ahead of Her Time is open for viewing until November 4, 2018.