Our place. climate. world.
Through the Eye of the Lens
How is climate change viewed through the eyes of young people and artists?
Through the Eye of the Lens is a nation-wide artist-led photographic project about climate change for young people. Led by Track Zero in creative partnerships with professional photographers, expert climate scientists, local communities and major arts festivals, it is an exciting series of projects located in diverse regions around Aotearoa New Zealand.
In each location, rangatahi (young people) aged 10-17 years are taking part in photography workshops led by some of New Zealand’s most exciting professional photographers. The photographers share their creative expertise and teach them how to use their very own digital cameras they get to keep. They are encouraged to express their ideas on our place, our world, and the impact of climate change on their communities by telling stories ‘through the eye of the (camera) lens’. They’ll also learn about climate science from New Zealand’s top scientists and explore actions they can take to create a resilient, carbon neutral future.
A selection of photographs taken and curated by the young artists and photographers are exhibited in each Arts Festival programme and in an online exhibition that you can view right here.
The multi-year programme (a series of projects) is likely to culminate in a major photographic exhibition and a parallel online exhibition featuring the exciting work by the young artists and photographers from the entire series.
Watch this space as we reveal more events!
To view the projects and inspiring photographs by young people and artists click on each of the tiles below.
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
Major Art Festivals in six locations across Aotearoa, NZ
LOCATIONS
Through the Eye of the Lens – Whakatū. In collaboration with the Nelson Arts Festival, 21 – 31 October 2021
Through the Eye of the Lens – Wānaka. In collaboration with Festival of Colour 2021, 12 -18 April
Background image used above – USGS – Earth as Art series 6. ‘Icy Vortex’
Through the Eye of the Lens – Tāmaki Makaurau
In collaboration with Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki | Auckland Arts Festival (AAF), 9 – 26 March 2023
In the sixth collaboration in the series around Aotearoa New Zealand rangatahi from across Tāmaki Makaurau are invited to share their views on climate change through a group photography exhibition.
They workshopped environmental issues with leading climate scientist Professor Tim Naish; dived into mātauranga Māori with artist/educator Dr Natalie Robertson, and learnt about storytelling through a camera lens with professional photographers Raymond Sagapolutele and Cherrilee Fuller.
Image credit: Raymond Sagapolutele
Follow us on social media and AAF for more detail as this exciting project unfolds.
IN COLLABORATION: