Thirty-seven artists took part in the challenge, which involved selecting an item from the museum’s e-Hive website collection and using it to inspire a piece of art.
The exhibition was opened by Southland Mayor Rob Scott at the end of last month and will finish on November 3.
The song was entered by Chris Stowe, of Riverton. Other entries included paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics, weaving and poetry.
The e-Hive items are displayed alongside the art works and their explanations.
Museum operations manager Karyn Owen said it was the first time a song had been entered in the challenge.
It is likely the pipe was used by Chinese miners at the Round Hill gold mine near Orepuke.
By 1872, there were about 500 Chinese working in the gold field.
"It was the only gold field where for a long time Chinese outnumbered Europeans."
Often the hardest part of the challenge was choosing an item from among the 8000 on display, she said.
In the explanation accompanying the song, Stowe said his aim was to compose music that reflected the dreamlike state a smoker of the drug might experience.
In his imagination, he pictured the opium den where the miners were able to forget the harsh reality of their lives.
"I feel that such a place would have provided the space and means to forget the troubles of the hard labours of the day’s work, the casual and institutional racism that was prevalent against Chinese at the time or to forget or remember loved ones left behind in China."
Wānaka artist Chrissy Wickes spoke at the opening of the exhibition held at the end of last month.
She was inspired by an albatross skull to paint a life-sized albatross.
In her explanation, Wickes said she had been involved with the Department of Conservation albatross work on Campbell Island.
Usually, people only got to see the bones of the bird, Wickes said.
"My last trip was so inspiring I wanted to create the albatross to size for people to experience."
Other events were planned for the duration of the exhibition, including a floor talk by artists on October 5, Ms Owen said.
