Welcome to Festival Zone for September 2013.
Red Tape by Anita Jacobsen (image courtesy of the artist)
Asia Pacific Photoforum - My Place exhibition in China
As announced in last month's newsletter, the Festival has prepared an exhibition for the Pingyao International Photography Festival in China, starting on 19th September. Both PIP and Auckland are partners in the Asia Pacific Photoforum, which sees the network of Photo Festivals extend from Sydney, Ballarat, Queensland and Angkor, to the new wave of Festivals (in Bangladesh, Columbia, Guatemala, South Korea and Thailand) nominated to join the Forum. This expansion provides many more opportunities for photographers from Auckland to get their work seen by top international curators and Festival directors. The 2013 edition of the Auckland and Pingyao exhibition exchange is curated by Elaine Smith, specially for the Pingyao International Photography Festival. With thanks to Asia NZ Foundation for curator placement support. We are proud to support the work of the four artists selected and to highlight more about them.
Chris Corson-Scott was born in Auckland in 1985 and is a full time artist, having initially studied music (as a guitarist). His work is typically large-scale and made for the wall, but conjointly attempts to absorb the lessons of post-impressionism and abstract expressionism by creating a picture surface where every inch carries equal intensity, rather than merely depicting a 'subject' against a 'background'. Most of his pictures are created within a short distance of the suburb he was born and lives, or other areas of New Zealand's north island he has spent time and which harbour memory. His work is not concerned with banality, it is instead about the transformation of visual reality into pictures, a multiplied kind of 'decisive moment', and looking (at the world and images) with a heightened intensity.
Geoffrey Heath lives and works in Auckland, New Zealand. He graduated with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications from Unitec School of Art and Design in 2000. In 2004 Heath was the joint winner of the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Award. A national contemporary art competition held annually in Hamilton, New Zealand. Heath’s photographs have been exhibited and published in New Zealand and he has also exhibited in Australia.
Born 1984 and raised in Papakura, South Auckland, Anita Jacobsen is of Norwegian and Samoan descent. Using herself as both the subject and model in many of her photographs, Anita Jacobsen encompasses the autobiographical photographic genre of self-portraiture. Her work challenges notions regarding the authenticity, transformation and representation of the self, and the socio-political parameters that inform identities. An investigation of personal and the domestic environment is a key interest in her practice.
Born in 1964, Vicky Thomas grew up in Mangere, South Auckland. Her father is Ngati Kahu from Mangamuka, Far North and her mother is of Irish, Welsh and Nga Puhi decent and was born in Onehunga, Auckland. Apart from living in Australia for several years in her twenties, Vicky has lived in Auckland and is comfortable with describing herself as an urban Maori. She currently resides in Titirangi with her two sons. Vicky graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Visual Communication - Photography major at Unitec, Auckland in 2005. She has exhibited in several multi-artist shows and has sold her works to both local and international buyers. Vicky has a passion for creating artworks that reflect the environment in which she grew up and lives. Embracing both her Maori and Pakeha world experiences and influences enables her to combine various ideas and present works that challenge held perceptions and stereotypes when considering contemporary Maori artwork. Her ideas are often influenced by pop culture, film, television and music.
Pingyao International Photography Festival is held all over the entire ancient walled city, including on a designated 10 acre site that comprises old factories, warehouses, temples, pavillion's and outdoor exhibits, the whole city gets behind it including exhibitions in the local tax offices, post office, banks - over 200,000 visitors enjoy the Festival each year and the Auckland Festival of Photography has been partnering with Pingyao since late 2010. See more here.
Auckland Photo Blog
The Auckland Photo Blog has been operating as a unique Auckland online photo library created by the people of the region since 2006, we hold over 6500 images online for viewing and reference for the region. It is a community space and one which we enjoy providing to Aucklanders free of charge. Feedback about selections of the "Photo of The Month" has galvanised us to offer the role of "judge" to a volunteer each month who has an interest in photography and would like to be the person to say, "yes thats the one that is my favourite this month". We are seeking volunteers for the next few months, so if you have a good eye and would like to be involved in supporting the photography community, send us and email on info.photo.festival@xtra.co.nz and subject is 'Monthly Blog selectors'. This month's selection was done by Matthias Ebel, thanks to him for his time, and congratulations to Cat Groombridge for her photo below.
Auckland Photo Blog - Open theme - August Photo of the Month. Taken by Cat Groombridge - Foggy Autumn Mornings, congratulations to Cat.
Donations to the Festival
The Trust is a not for profit charitable trust working to further the presence and awareness of photography in Auckland through joint programming, audience development and profile raising activities. It is registered with the Charities Commission, No: CC38839. We are hold donee status with the IRD so any donation to us is eligible for a tax credit. If you can spare a monthly $20 or one off donation of a bit more then get in touch and we can arrange the AP bank details with you.
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