Beautiful Creatures

Jacqueline Fraser

Jack Smith

Bill Henson

curated by Christina Barton

02 May – 07 July 2013

Jack Smith, film still from Flaming Creatures (1962-63), 16mm black and white film, sound. Copyright Jack Smith Archive. Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels

Jack Smith, Flaming Creatures, 1962-63, 16mm black and white film, sound. Copyright Jack Smith Archive. Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels

Installation view of Jack Smith, Flaming Creatures (1962-63), in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jack Smith, Flaming Creatures, 1962-63. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, 15 C-type photographs. Collection of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of an anonymous donor, 2008.

Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, 15 C-type photographs. Collection of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of an anonymous donor, 2008.

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Bill Henson, from the series Untitled 1998/1999/2000, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF THE CIAO MANHATTAN TAPES 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh

Installation view of Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013, in Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser. Photo: Shaun Waugh.

Jacqueline Fraser, THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GANGSTER 2013. Installation view, Beautiful Creatures: Jack Smith / Bill Henson / Jacqueline Fraser, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, 2013. Photo: Shaun Waugh