Sue Gardiner on recent contentious works, Virginia Were tracks an exhibition bringing boundary-riding Chinese artists to New Zealand and David Craig reflects on the Portage Awards and finds ceramics are getting more exciting. We profile Robin White and Fiona Pardington while she develops new work for the Sydney Biennale; visit Glen Hayward in his studio; and meet arts benefactor Glenn Schaeffer. Read dispatches from Ava Seymour during her McCahon House residency in Titirangi and Nigel Brown on encounters with German expressionism; columns from Christine Boswijk on ancient symbols, Josie McNaught on Auckland’s arts festivals, Matthew Collings on why the visual is philosophical and John Perry on the chilly wind blowing across the auction scene; and reviews from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Brisbane