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 five 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 – Te Whanganui-a-Tara
In collaboration with Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts 21 February – 20 March 2022
In the fifth collaboration a group of rangatahi from across Te Whanganui-a-Tara explored climate change and environmental issues through the lens of a camera.
In collaboration with Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Track Zero worked with four colleges in a series of separate workshops. Students from Bishop Viard College, Naenae College, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna and Wainuiomata High School shared knowledge about climate change and mātauranga Maori and science with Professors James Renwick, Tim Naish and Dr Daniel Hikuroa. They then spent a week learning camera skills and storytelling with professional photographers: Te Rawhitiroa Bosch, Raymond Sagapolutele, Te Kawa Robb and Te Whanganui-a-Tara locals: Chevron Hassett and Virginia Woods-Jack.
Part of the workshops were taught remotely via zoom by Te Rawhitiroa and Raymond due to COVID-19 alert levels preventing their travel.
In November 2021, images taken by each group of students and artists are on display in their local communities (in Naenae Community Library, Pātaka Art + Museum, Wainuiomata Community Hub and Ngā Mokopuna).
Powerful statements and images taken from the point of view of the group of rangatahi, as well as a selection of photos from Te Kawa Robb, Virginia Woods-Jack and Chevron Hassett will be on view in a series of exhibitions during the Festival from 21 February – 21 March 2022 and online, here on Track Zero’s website.
Follow us on social media and the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts 2022 for more detail as this project unfolds. Exciting things to come!
IN COLLABORATION:
MAJOR SUPPORTER:
THANKS TO:
for support towards camera equipment
