When bags move like ballerinas

Ballerinas twist, turn and move so gracefully that they often seem other-worldly, but would you ever compare a ballerina to a bag?

In our Carried Away: Bags Unpacked exhibition, artist Isaac Katzoff’s glass bag got itself a nickname of just that: the ballerina. The nickname was given after the bag hinted at graceful movement while it was under the spotlight in the photography studio - it's inner performer was at the ready.

Although the Museum holds many objet d’art (art objects), the beautiful photography and images of the collection are themselves works of art, as this image of Katzoff's bag here is. Museum photographers work behind the scenes to create images of objects that act as both documentation and art.

As Artweek Auckland comes to a close this weekend, we wanted to showcase just one of many of the wonderful objet d'art from within our Applied Arts & Design collection.

Come and see 'the ballerina' for yourself, alongside many other wonderful works of art at Carried Away: Bags Unpacked, on now and free with Museum entry.

More messages from your neighbours

10 minutes ago

Amazingly quiet night in Green Bay

Markus from Green Bay

All the Best for the New Year! The last few years they started banging days earlier already, but this year it was amazingly quiet. Now either people suddenly got smart and care about animals and the environment (which I don’t believe for a second) or it’s the clearest sign of the Cost of Living Crisis we are in. I’m just glad I can make a damn fine bread for under a dollar.

The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand

Summer Kiwi Quiz - 2026

Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!

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