Pathway to the Sea - Aramoana was opened in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Saturday to mark the 80th birthday of Dunedin artist Ralph Hotere.
The work was created by Hotere and Bill Culbert in 1991 and was last shown in Dunedin in 2000 in the "Black Light" exhibition.
"It's one of their key pieces and it's nice to bring it back together," DPAG curator Aaron Kreisler said.
The work features 240 etched paua shells and 16 fluorescent tubes, leading to a large volcanic rock from Aramoana.
DPAG staff had to take down three walls in its Trust Bank galleries and spent two weeks installing the work.
"In terms of ripping out walls, it would be one of the biggest [installations] we've had," Mr Kreisler said.
"It's a work that requires a lot of room; it's 100 feet long. It's better described in feet because it's a clearer reference to walking it. It's a pathway. Something you pace." The work has resided at Te Papa since 1993 and is accompanied by five original drawings and 13 lithographs.
"Works like this, it's hard to get them out because of the nature of them," Mr Kreisler said.
"We've had a fantastic time installing this work, because stories and histories emerge when a major work, such as this, is installed after a long period of time. For example, we now have a photo of the rock being collected from Aramoana."
The Hocken Gallery is also showing an exhibition of Hotere works, "Zero to Infinity", to mark the artist's 80th birthday today. "It's lovely to see so many institutions honouring his birthday. It would be nice if Ralph came to see it. We'd love it if he did. I guess we'll see how he feels on the day," Mr Kreisler said.
The two artists met in Port Chalmers, where Culbert was born and Hotere moved after being awarded the 1969 University of Otago Frances Hodgkins Fellowship.
Their collaboration is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most important artistic partnerships.
Pathway to the Sea - Aramoana will be exhibited at the gallery until November 20.
