In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
NZ
In the Scrum Searching for Joy
Presented by The Charlotte Museum
Free entry
Where & When
7 Oct 2026 – 14 Nov 2026
The Charlotte Museum
1A Howe Street, 1A Howe Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
FREE
In The Scrum Searching for Joy
Exhibition by Natasha Munro Hurn
Through having a desire to experiment with these feelings around the sport rugby, I realise that I want to tap into my own personal relationship through the found object of the rugby ball. I would be lying if this were not at first a confrontational choice for me. The association of rugby is tied to my experience of homophobic men, especially living in a small city in the South Island for most of my life as a very out trans non-binary woman. At the same time, my practice seeks to revolve around overt expressions of celebrating the queer body and self through various techniques that revolve around deliberate mess and experimentation. The sculptures themselves are store-bought rugby balls that I then paint and glue anything around me from choker spikes, gifted jewellery, dollar store nails and even condoms on top of them. The desired effect is to transform the sculptures into free-flowing expressions of queerness through these DIY techniques that still form an overall theme and a contortive, creature-like figure out of each ball.
Through many kōrero already made with different people about these sculptures, the association with rugby enables so many readings and humorous breaks to be made in their presence. I believe this strong reaction is formed due to the fact that the sport is deeply attached to living in Aoatearoa. Either way, you really can’t escape it, even if you honestly don’t care for it all. Rugby is complex, and that complexity mixed with my processes of queer liberation/joy could expand out into so many emotional possibilities when they are public to the world. I hope these odd expressions can connect to so many people for various reasons and even entertain in their absurdity through these hard times we are all going through in this country.
October 7th - November 14th 2026