The Anything Could Happen exhibition was named after the lyrical song of the same name written and performed by Dunedin band the Clean: a band which contributed to the popularised post-punk movement, coined as ‘the Dunedin Sound’ predominantly in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

A collaboration between Margo Barton and Jane Malthus from Design at Otago Polytechnic, and Antony Deaker of the Enterprise Dunedin Group at Dunedin City Council, the exhibition took place at YuYuan Garden Exhibition Hall in Shanghai in May/June 2017. 

“The exhibition was inspired by the sister city relationship between Dunedin and Shanghai,” Jane explains, “as well as by the relationship between the YuYuan Garden and the Lan Yuan Garden in Dunedin, by the Otago Polytechnic’s collaborative fashion projects with fashion schools in Shanghai – and by wanting to widen the creative threads joining our cities.”

Anything Could Happen featured contemporary art and fashion from Dunedin selected from submissions from artist and designers who had or were developing a commercial track record. The curators wanted to represent the diversity, quality and connectivity of the many artists who have connections with Dunedin. An independent panel selected the final works shown in Shanghai.

It featured work from 33 artists and designers, and although space allowed only one or a few works from each, we directed viewers to a Dunedinnz website more of the artists’ works could be accessed.  A catalogue was produced in English and Mandarin versions and available free to visitors.

Students from Design at Otago Polytechnic in China on Prime Minister’s Scholarships worked with the curators on many aspects of the exhibition, from finalizing the catalogues, writing the labels to hanging and installing the works in cases on the two floors of the gallery. They also filmed the YuYuan Garden and view of the exhibition for the DCC website.

“It was exciting to see the work of Dunedin artists and fashion designers in such an international setting,” says Margo. “Yuyuan Garden has the second highest visitor number of Shanghai tourist attractions. The opening event was attended by New Zealand, Chinese and Australian dignitaries, artists, designers and creative professionals.”

Both Margo and Jane were also excited to see the aesthetic and intellectual connections the works made with each other and how they represented the creative energy of Dunedin. Students gained valuable experience from assisting with many final arrangements gaining insight into the myriad decisions involved.