Welcome to Festival Zone for March 2015. Congratulations to our 2015 Annual Commission artist, P J Paterson, who is the selected artist for this year's presentation by Sacred Hill.
P J Paterson - The Island - Annual Commission by Sacred Hill 2015 recipient
Annual Commission by Sacred Hill
2015 is the fifth year of the Auckland Festival of Photography Annual Fine Arts Commission, where one of three shortlisted photographers is commissioned to produce a new body of work especially for the Festival in June. We are pleased to announce that this year the Annual Commission has been awarded to PJ Paterson.
PJ Paterson’s work concentrates on the politics of progress and his love/hate relationships as a consumer and a commentator on consumption. He is interested in the beauty created by the juxtaposition of the detritus of capitalism in pristine landscapes. Using digital techniques to stitch multiple photographs together, Paterson forms an imaginary scene which is more of an exaggeration of reality than a complete fabrication – a fictional landscape which suggests a larger, prescient truth.
David Mason, Managing Director of Sacred Hill says “PJ Paterson creates mesmerising photography with strong messages presented in stunning images. He has a really individual style that looks at the familiar in unexpected ways - and at Sacred Hill we love that. We're raising a glass to great talent and congratulate PJ Paterson on his prestigious appointment."
Especially for the 5th year celebration of the Annual Commission by Sacred Hill, Creative New Zealand are supporting a visit to China for PJ in late March. This trip is for the research and development of the new work which will be exhibited in Silo 6 during this year’s Festival and later in Pingyao International Photography Festival in China.
We will have more details on our 5th year celebration of the Annual Commission comprising an additional exhibition of all the previously commissioned work at The Pah Homestead when the full programme is announced on 8th April.
In other news about the artists previously Commissioned, this week opening at McNamara Gallery is an exhibition by Annual Commission 2012 recipient James K Lowe, opens from March 6th.
Magnum comes to Auckland
Auckland Festival of Photography is delighted to announce, direct from Magnum in Paris, the exclusive New Zealand presentation of - Offside Brazil : Susan Meiselas, David Alan Harvey, Jonas Bendiksen and Alex Majoli.
Susan Meiselas / Magnum Photos with the support of Save the Dream, Instituto Moreira Salles and ESPN. BRAZIL. Bairro de Fátima, Rio de Janeiro. July 11, 2014. Fabiola shows Anne how to wrap her hair naturally in a turban at the store Colares Odara
Magnum Photos with the support of Save the Dream, Instituto Moreira Salles and ESPN, produced Offside Brazil, a project that was shot over 5 weeks in Brazil during the 2014 FIFA World Cup by 4 Magnum photographers who worked with local Brazilian photographers and collectives. The resulting collection of work is a tribute to the country of Brazil and Brazilian Society in it's response to hosting the FIFA World Cup. The Auckland Festival of Photography exhibition will show work by Magnum photographer Susan Meisales, Alex Majoli, Jonas Bendiksen and David Alan Harvey. "Offside Brazil is Brazil outside of the games, outside of the stadiums when the biggest football event in the world happened in the most football crazy place on the globe, where futbol touches everyone".
This year's Festival has a unique sideshow to it's annual June presentation. Running parallel to our regular annual Festival is the 2015 U20 Fifa World Cup being hosted in Auckland, with the stars of tomorrow showing off their skills. We hope you enjoy the opportunity to celebrate photography and soccer in Auckland this June.
In conjunction with the Festival and for the first time in New Zealand, the world famous photo agency Magnum will be holding Workshops at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design from May 28th May to June 1st.
Directed by the three renowned Magnum photographers Thomas Dworzak (Ger), Olivia Arthur (UK) and Chien-Chi Chang (Taiwan), they will offer a unique intensive photography experience in Auckland through a daily program of shooting, reviews, group critiques, mentoring and editing sessions.
Thanks to Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design for their support of these exclusive New Zealand workshops.
Full details of how to apply for this exclusive experience in the Festival will be announced soon.
Asia Pacific Photoforum
Last chance to get your entries into the Head On Festival Awards in Sydney which are still open for submissions to their annual Head On Portrait Prize with Landscape, Mobile and Multimedia categories also. The Head On Awards are open internationally and are offering over $50 000 in prizes across Portrait, Landscape, Mobile and Moving Image categories. The awards include equipment and software from a variety of industry leaders. All finalists will be exhibited as part of Head On Photo Festival, Australia’s leading photography festival. Deadline is extended to 8th March 2015. Entry fee applies.
Ballarat International Foto Biennale is calling for Fringe registrations, they have venues available, so submit your work and head to Australia in August/September 2015. Deadline for registering your exhibition is 1st May 2015. Fees apply.
New APP members Obscura Festival of Photography, Penang, Malaysia and Shimmer Photography Biennale, Onkaparinga, near Adelaide have now launched their web profile on the Asia Pacific Photoforum website. More on the Asia Pacific Photoforum can be found on our Facebook page, Twitter@AsiaPacificPhot - like us and keep up to date.
Auckland Photo Day 2015
The Festival is very disappointed to announce there will not be an Auckland Photo Day across the region this year. Nikon NZ, our partner for the last 4 years for this very popular 24 hour day in the life competition, which has been running since 2004, has been unable to continue its support this year due to a new business plan being worked on by Lacklands, the brand’s newly appointed agents. It’s sad news that Nikon won't be on board in 2015 as naming rights sponsor but we want to thank Nikon NZ team for its support since 2011, in particular Meg Luff, Jeremy Andrews, Greg Olesen and Jono Higgins whom we have enjoyed working alongside in the last 4 years and look forward to working with Nikon again in the future. We are optimistic that Auckland Photo Day will be held again in June 2016.
Lacklands has supplied the following statement: "While Nikon will not be a key sponsor this year, we wish the festival all the best for 2015 and look forward to future festivals. Nikon has enjoyed a strong association with the Auckland Festival of Photography which showcases photography to a wider audience and inspires Aucklander’s to document and commentate visually on their city. The festival has brought leading international exhibitions to Auckland for the enjoyment and appreciation of thousands of New Zealanders. It is an outstanding event.”
Here are the winners from the last 4 years, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. We want to thank all the thousands of participants who have taken part in this popular 24 hour day in the life of Auckland competition since 2004.
One of the highlights of the association was in 2012 with Mayor Brown warming up for our people's regional competition Auckland Photo Day with Nikon -
Mayor Brown Warms Up For Nikon Auckland Photo Day 2012
Movie Ticket Giveaways
For the last 40 years, the photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling through the continents, in the footsteps of an ever changing humanity. He has witnessed the major events of our recent history ; international conflicts, starvations and exodus. He is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of the wild fauna and flora, of grandiose landscapes as part of a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet's beauty. Sebastião's Salgado's life and work are revealed to us by his son, Juliano, who went with him during his last travels, and by Wim Wenders, a photographer himself. The Salt of the Earth film starts on March 12 and we have 5 double passes to giveaway, if you want to nab one, then join us on Facebook and post to our page your name and the title of the film, first 5 posts will win tickets. Not transferable for cash and must be living in New Zealand to take part. (As we would hope the free tickets are used here in Auckland!).