Our place. climate. world.
Through the Eye of the Lens – Tāmaki Makaurau
In collaboration with Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki | Auckland Arts Festival (AAF), 9 – 26 March 2023
Thought-provoking images and ideas by rangatahi are uplifted by scientists, educators and artists in this collaboration addressing climate change through the camera lens of our youth.
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. Participants have been gifted digital cameras to spark their creative vision, alongside the opportunity to workshop environmental issues with leading climate scientist Professor Tim Naish; dive into mātauranga Māori with artist/educator Dr Natalie Robertson, and receive mentorship from professional photographers Raymond Sagapolutele and Cherrilee Fuller. An exhibition of their art and a call to action towards a resilient, carbon neutral future will be on display during the Festival from 9 -26 March in Aotea Square, Waitākere Central Library and Sir Edmund Hillary Library (Papakura) and online, here on Track Zero’s website.
Follow us on social media and AAF for more detail as this exciting project unfolds.
THROUGH THE EYE OF THE LENS – TĀMAKI MAKAURAU
9- 26 March 2023
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
Papakura High School
Rangeview Intermediate School
Exhibitions
Be inspired by the photographs taken and curated by the young artists and photographers, expressing their views about climate change.
SUPPORTER:
Image credit: Raymond Sagapolutele
Papakura High School
Image credit: Raymond Sagapolutele
Rangeview Intermediate School
THANKS TO:
Photographers
Raymond Sagapolutele
Award winning Aotearoa-born Sāmoan artist, Raymond Sagapolutele says the camera has become a vital part of his ability to reconnect with cultural ties to Pacific history, the land and ocean. Speaking through images gives his visual language a voice – the method that forms his oratory and connects to the Samoan tradition of Fagogo (storytelling).
Cherrilee Fuller
Cherrilee is an Auckland-based photographer specialising in creative Māori portraits.
She was raised in Murupara but is from Ngati Whare Kokowai, Ngati Maniapoto, Te Whānau ā Apanui. She is the owner and creator of Taiao Creative Limited, a business that uses natural raw resources to create taonga. Cherrilee studied at South Seas commercial photography. She is a photographer for Māori events for many Māori organisations – including the Polyfest Photographer for the Māori Stage for 5 years.
Exploring climate science
Students took part in interactive science experiments and learned about climate science from expert Earth Systems Scientist, Dr Tim Naish, and about mātauranga Māori and science from Artist/Educator Dr Natalie Robertson. They were given a free camera they got to keep and encouraged to think about how the changing climate is affecting the world they live in and to share how they see the world and our future.
Climate and the camera
“The power of telling climate stories through a camera lens is that it engages our imagination and connects with people on an emotional level. The science tells us that every tenth of a degree of warming adds to the risks that undermine our way of life. One degree of warming is already giving us more intense extremes, but going beyond two degrees would bring about very damaging consequences. To halt the warming at no more than 1.5C, we must act now and give it everything we’ve got. We must halve global emissions of carbon dioxide by 2030, and get to zero by 2050, but by sharing ideas, working together, and telling stories about the future we want to see, we can do it.”
Climate Science Facts
Photographic Workshop
Professional photographers Raymond Sagapolutele and Cherrilee Fuller shared their creative expertise with students and taught them how to use a camera to become their own storytellers.
Festival Exhibitions
Photos taken and selected by the young students and photographers were displayed in three print exhibitions across Tāmaki Makaurau: on outdoor plinths in Aotea Square (a display of all work by students and artists), Waitākere Central Library (showing Rangeview Intermediate students and artists), Sir Edmund Hillary Library (Papakura High School students and artists).
AAF launched the exhibitions with a lively ceremony at each library with the students who took part in the project. Visited by hundreds of Festival-goers, students, their communities and the general public, the exhibitions run during the Festival 9 – 26 March 2023.
Image credits: Penny Chang and Sarah Meads
