Art & creativity  |  30 Apr 2021

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Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū is celebrating the 40th anniversary of cult Kiwi record label Flying Nun with a new publication.

Titled Hellzapoppin’! The Art of Flying Nun, the book features original artwork and design, film, record covers, posters and photography from some of New Zealand’s favourite bands.

The book will be released for general sale in August 2021 to coincide with a stunning new Flying Nun art exhibition at the Art Gallery. The Gallery has just launched a pre-sale campaign, featuring a hand-screenprinted dustjacket created with artist Ronnie van Hout, an early Flying Nun collaborator.

Only 200 of these special books are available for presale order, and they are expected to be highly sought after. The Gallery has also created a range of hand-screenprinted posters with Van Hout and these too are limited to a run of 200.

“We’re excited to be working with artist Ronnie van Hout to produce these unique posters and dustjackets, which are based on an absolute classic – Ronnie’s Flying Saucer cover for Pin Group’s classic Go To Town EP,” Art Gallery Director Blair Jackson says.

“Printed in fluorescent inks on coloured paper, multiple colourways will be available. And like the classic Flying Nun record covers we’re riffing off, no two will be identical.”

From rare collectible records and vintage posters to original artworks and paste-up designs, the new book explores the art and artists behind the music of the Christchurch label.

Presale orders are open for the special edition, with each copy numbered and stamped ‘Ronnie Approved’. Presale orders are also open for the poster.