Whanganui Arts in Review: A Survey of Past Award Winners from the last Ten Years
Jinn Dogs (series)
left to right: Blue Meanie, Bone Mad, Dark Spirit, Toker, Entanglement, Manipulation, Intoxication
2021
Black Stoneware
left to right: Blue Meanie, Bone Mad, Dark Spirit, Toker, Entanglement, Manipulation, Intoxication
2021
Black Stoneware
Over the past decade my art practice has changed; from predominantly photography to creating with clay. This change happened after the 2015 Whanganui River flood. I had a photography studio on Taupo Quay where most of my gear was lost. I remember standing there and just looking at all the mud; this was the moment when I began transitioning over to working with clay. The focus of my ceramics practice has been about relationships and vulnerability; the imbalance between man and nature, our impact on animal species, the role science plays in the reanimation of nature and the consequences of humanity's biased choices contributing to environmental changes. On a Wing and A Prayer was a collection of bird shaped urns that focused on New Zealand’s critically endangered birds and our responsibility to save them. Gone Bird was a series of urns representing a selection of extinct native birds that we had already lost and Pest Control explored the introduction of foreign animals to New Zealand and how this contributed to loss of native flora and fauna. The three Ibis bird figures that featured in Ten, a group exhibition at Zimmerman Gallery, contemplated de-extinction of the iconic Huia and the current efforts to bring back extinct species through questionable scientific studies. Recently the exhibition Bittersweet Wish: The Flight of the Genie Birds reflected on the introduction of foreign birds to New Zealand having undesirable outcomes for native species and agricultural production. Now you see here seven haunting dogs that float like dark minded Jinn, each appearing with offerings. This is a sharp turn inwards and reflects the transformation of our everyday lives through unexpected changes. These new works were made during times of forced isolation, debates about mandates and the heavy clouds of uncertainty looming over the festivals of the future. Black clay seemed fitting for these dark days. The deceitful dogs appear with questionable remedies and coping mechanisms, a way of escapism or distraction from harsh realities of the present. Creating with black clay in the current covid environment feels to me like wearing appropriate mourning clothes.
The Admirer | The Assistant | The Disciple
Throughout art history the white rabbit has been used as a symbol of chastity and purity; it has associations with the moon, femininity, and fertility as well as the varying representations in folklore and myths. These three white rabbits come together and reveal a darker tale of modern times. She peers out of the mirror, staring back from beneath the shade of beauty products. He dwells in laboratories as an unwilling assistant along with other undeserving souls and they appear in books and lyrics frolicking through the imagination with mysterious uncertainty.
White has become somewhat tainted, stained, and impure; these quiet ghosts lurking with us every day, overlooked, ignored, and hiding in plain sight. These White Rabbits are haunting me!
White has become somewhat tainted, stained, and impure; these quiet ghosts lurking with us every day, overlooked, ignored, and hiding in plain sight. These White Rabbits are haunting me!
Moa: Emerging Practitioner in Clay
(Award Entry)
Moa, one of the most iconic extinct flightless birds of New Zealand that was hunted to extinction many moons ago. Birds endemic to New Zealand have thrived for millions of years, but it only takes a few centuries of human activity to have such an impact on the environment that we unfortunately lose them forever.
There have been many conversations about de-extinction or the reviving of extinct animals such as the Moa by scientists, including an article by popular magazine the National Geographic, that ask us to consider how we would feel about the possibility of this phenomenon. Urns in ancient Egyptian tombs are vessels used to aid the transportation of the dead to the afterlife, but this urn is a vessel for loss and signifies that ashes to ashes and dust to dust are absolute; that the Moa has been laid to rest and there it shall remain. Their bones housed in museum collections are there for us to remember, so let the loss of these birds and other extinct animals be a lesson, a guide, a sacrifice to teach us, haunt us and signify change.
We may be on the brink of de-extinction but that is a dangerous concept. The prevention of such tragedies should be the focus of humanity and not reanimation of the deceased.
There have been many conversations about de-extinction or the reviving of extinct animals such as the Moa by scientists, including an article by popular magazine the National Geographic, that ask us to consider how we would feel about the possibility of this phenomenon. Urns in ancient Egyptian tombs are vessels used to aid the transportation of the dead to the afterlife, but this urn is a vessel for loss and signifies that ashes to ashes and dust to dust are absolute; that the Moa has been laid to rest and there it shall remain. Their bones housed in museum collections are there for us to remember, so let the loss of these birds and other extinct animals be a lesson, a guide, a sacrifice to teach us, haunt us and signify change.
We may be on the brink of de-extinction but that is a dangerous concept. The prevention of such tragedies should be the focus of humanity and not reanimation of the deceased.
The Archaeologist | The Alchemist | The Believer
Group Exhibition Ten at Zimmerman Gallery 2020
Stoneware coiled statuettes 2020
These three works were made specifically for the group exhibition TEN, which marks a decade of Bronwyn Zimmermann's Gallery being open and celebrates a milestone of being an integral part of the Manawatu Arts Community.
You can achieve a lot in a decade, you could also lose and experience many changes, some welcome and some not. The development in science around the globe is certainly an area of interest. Beth Shapiro is a leading scientist in the field of molecular biology with her research and work focused on ancient DNA. In 2015, her book “How to clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-extinction” was published and talks about the candidates up for resurrection and the likelihood of whether this is feasible based on technology in science today. When asked how long before de-extinction is a reality, she replied “The answer depends on what you're willing to accept as "de-extinction." If you mean a pigeon born with some passenger pigeon traits, or an elephant born with mammoth-like traits, it could happen within a few years to a decade.” (May 2015 interview with Elizabeth Quill) |
They are unsure of the consequences as they each bring their element to create a resurrection together. |
There are three main ways an animal can become resurrected from extinction, cloning, genome editing and back breeding. Nature also has its own de extinction method known as Iterative Evolution. There are advocates who believe in the advantages of continuing this research and people who disagree. It is important to consider both sides of the argument and understand how very quickly life, death, mortality and immortality on earth could transform through science.
The three Ibis birds in this artwork are coming together in a pseudo prophetic attempt to bring back birds from extinction. They are unsure of the consequences as they each bring their element to create a resurrection together; resembling Dr Frankenstein who collected parts to reignite life into the bones and flesh of his creature.
Will it be wonderful, or will it be disastrous? Time can only tell us what will unfold as nature and de-extinction come together in our not too distant future.
The three Ibis birds in this artwork are coming together in a pseudo prophetic attempt to bring back birds from extinction. They are unsure of the consequences as they each bring their element to create a resurrection together; resembling Dr Frankenstein who collected parts to reignite life into the bones and flesh of his creature.
Will it be wonderful, or will it be disastrous? Time can only tell us what will unfold as nature and de-extinction come together in our not too distant future.
Signal
A collection of crows and doves - March 2018
This installation is a bit more challenging for viewers as it discusses the shifting balance between peace and war.
Presently some world leaders are portrayed to be antagonistic and unpredictable and this creates mass anxiety; we don’t know which way the pendulum is going to swing. It is hard to think straight when you are panicked.
These uneasy feelings increase people’s susceptibility to seeing omens, much like the peace doves that the Pope releases every year being attacked by crows at the Vatican; perhaps a sign for terrible events that are yet to unfold upon humanity. Most of us long for harmony, and this should begin within ourselves. The tension is what is hard to view about the birds in this installation, but it is necessary for us to look at it, absorb it, feel it, so we can start to create change.
Presently some world leaders are portrayed to be antagonistic and unpredictable and this creates mass anxiety; we don’t know which way the pendulum is going to swing. It is hard to think straight when you are panicked.
These uneasy feelings increase people’s susceptibility to seeing omens, much like the peace doves that the Pope releases every year being attacked by crows at the Vatican; perhaps a sign for terrible events that are yet to unfold upon humanity. Most of us long for harmony, and this should begin within ourselves. The tension is what is hard to view about the birds in this installation, but it is necessary for us to look at it, absorb it, feel it, so we can start to create change.