Distant Conversations - An Isolation Themed NZ Print Exchange

Back in March, as our borders were closing and our sense of isolation was increasing, printmaker Celia Walker suggested a print exchange as both a distraction and a way of keeping connected.  16 New Zealand printmakers from Northland down to Christchurch have created a beautiful collection of works that will be an evocative memento of this period in time.

 

 

 

 

The Distant Conversations isolation print exchange was exhibited 

 

at the Depot Artspace in Devonport 

 

from Saturday 31 October - 18 November, 2020. 

 

 

 

 

 

Distant Conversations Print Exchange, 2020

 

 

 The Prints

 

 

 

Communication station, Celia Walker, Auckland

 

  Drypoint and rust print 

 

Filtering through the white noise of media releases, radio reports, television broadcasts are other more essential conversations and connections. My daily walks sometimes take me past the radio masts on Takarunga/Mt Victoria – I am not sure what conversations they are receiving but they make me think of short-wave radio networks and half-heard voices from overseas.

 

 

 

 

Brunch with the Baphomet, Martinus Sarangapany, Coromandel

 

 

 Woodcut 

 

In search for equilibrium 

We brunch with the Baphomet. 

A deity neither he nor she, 

An in-between, judging nothing, seeing all. 

We twist our tongues, all but lies;

 And are seen. 

 

“They will be the death of you.” 

“I know.” We reply. 

But how to sever the hydra’s head, 

When one is cut now two instead 

And all be fed. 

Self consumption. 

 

“Solve and Coagula.” 

And so we eat, 

And digest.

Rongoā Māori, Jasmine Horton, Whangarei

 Double exposure cyanotype 

 

My series titled ‘Rongoā Māori’ is essentially about the care and co-ordination of our Maori communities that I witnessed during Level 4 Lockdown. I watched Iwi leaders and organisations come together and employ Māori to create rongoā and care packages for our most vulnerable families especially our kuia and kaumatua. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Naturally my concern during this pandemic has been Māori health, our people historically haven’t fared well during flu pandemics and this was, and still is, troubling to me. It was great to see community leaders working together to help protect our people.

 

 

 

And with that a touch,Virginia Guy, Hikurangi

 Solar plate on hahnemuhle paper 

 

I sneaked just a touch of my wee grandsons hand, it was lockdown and we had not had a day that we hadn't touched, a week was long enough, no one saw. The empty gap between our hands now no more. 

 

 

 

Dreams of Travelling Again, Prue MacDougall, Auckland

 

 

 Hand printed photopolymer intaglio etching 

Paper: vintagepaper.co.uk (J Green and Sons 100% cotton made between 1969 and 1974) Printmaker 

Prue MacDougall often explores themes of journeying, which is now just a dream during the Covid19 Pandemic.

Caution: Not a straight line, Toni Mosley, Auckland

 Screenprint 

The tin can telephone maybe a distant memory as we now are connected through technology. Even with easier access to each other does not mean it is straight forward as we have multiple platforms to connect and this takes us on a bit of meandering path to each other.

Clouds Rubbing Together, Kim Lowe, Christchurch

 

Pencil rubbing, gold leaf 

Clouds Rubbing Together is a series of pencil rubbings over woodblock plates. The composition reflects the abstracted land, sea and skyscapes that I've been working on lately in both woodblock and ink painting.

Solus, Oxford, Celia Wilson, Oxford

Woodcut 

I miss my lovely old house on the outskirts of Oxford, so this print has a double meaning. I see Mt Oxford from my new home, which makes up for the loss of the old place. A reflection on thoughts that somehow link to lockdown.

Memory Waka, Faith McManus, Kaipara

 

Reduction woodcut 

The Memory Waka is about a combination of both safety and movement. The Green Mini was purchased by my Grandparents in 1963. I lived with them and they represent all that is beautiful in life and memory to me. When I remember our little green mini waka I feel comforted. Our country Aotearoa reminds me of this little green mini somehow.

Me and My Cat, Rosie Parsonson, Whangarei

 Drypoint 

This drypoint etching Me and My Cat, is a representation of the fond memories and the conversations my cat and myself pretended to understand, as we walked and played in the garden during our isolation over lockdown this year 2020.

**Untitled, Suzette van Dorsser, Auckland

 

Woodcut 

 

I experienced the Covid 19 lockdown as drawing the curtains and screening out the outside world. I really enjoyed how layering the woodcuts over the portrait completely changed the perception of the subject. They are immediately rendered 'removed' or 'mysterious' and I love playing with those feelings in my work. I find it fascinating to look past facades, so I masked my portraits with veils. 

Untitled, Suzette van Dorsser, Auckland

**Suzette's prints were all variations on her theme. 

This is the print I received in the exchange.

Stick to your Bubble, Toni Hartill, Auckland

 

 

 

Linocut

At a time when we were confined to our homes and our lives had to slow right down, snails seemed to be a particularly apt totem. The snail's habit of withdrawing into its shell when a threat is perceived, and its ability to seal itself away for long periods, being completely self-reliant, seemed especially relevant.

 

(Click HERE to see an earlier post about the making of this print 

and to purchase one of the last few available prints.)

 

 

Empty Passage, Kyla Cresswell, Wellington

 

Drypoint

 

 This drypoint reflects the quiet of the usually busy Wellington harbour passage during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Living on the coast at the harbour entrance, we are in tune with the regularity of the ferries—the thrum of their engines causes the glasses cabinet to rattle while the lights glide by at night—and the numerous freight ships, piled high with colourful containers, have been a subject of my photographs for the last 15 years. There has been a great sense of being connected and made aware of the goings on in the city through seeing the various ships pass. Cruise ships with a load of overseas visitors set to experience Wellington, fishing trawlers with a fresh catch, recreational kayakers, the NIWA boat heading out for scientific research, and yachts setting off for the sounds. It’s easy to imagine the lives and destinations of those on board. We have even been known to wave large colourful blankets from the beach at the ferries to bid our friends on an Interislander goodbye. However, the lockdown ended all cruise ships, the ferries still ran with freight but the harbour was so empty, with few signs of human life. One of the points of connection with the outside world was lost; only the empty harbour passage with the headland of Baring Head and the cry of the black backed gulls remained.

The Sun always Shines, Esther Hansen, Auckland

 Monoprint, Linocut and collage, E.V. 

 

The pop group A-Ha had a song, The Sun always shines on T.V, it is a song about anxiety, contrasting real life with the world of television. During lockdown the world has felt small and overwhelming at the same time. A sunset is all about perspective, the daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon due to earth’s rotation. It is also a beacon of optimism and hope. Like TV, in a world of art, the sun is always shining. We bear responsibility for bringing light into dark times.

 

Reverse: The Sun always Shines, Esther Hansen, Auckland

An extra treat with Esther's print is 

there is a bonus print on the back!

Readjustment, Elle Anderson, Taumaranui

 Cyanotype and hand-printed words 

 

Just before lockdown a log became stranded on the Whanganui River just outside our place - delicately balancing itself on a rock shelf. Waiting to be re-floated and to continue on its way as it was intended - to float gently on the current, partially in charge of its destiny. To maybe one day reach the ocean. During the lockdown a rebalancing needed to occur. A questioning of what and who is important in our lives. readjustment questions this personal rebalancing, that may have gotten out of balance prior to the 4 weeks of imposed stay at home time. Are you in charge of your destiny? Or do you just go with the flow and hope you end up where you intended to be?

Care, Kathy Boyle, Hawkes Bay

 Waterless lithography and relief 

 

Over the last few months I have been recording the social distancing signage on the floors of public spaces. The noughts and crosses acted as visual reminder to us maintain a safe distance from each other and endorsed the message of care for others, reminiscent of the symbols we use for hugs and kisses.

I'd like to thank Celia for organising this exchange, for inviting ME to take part, 

and for making possible the opportunity to exhibit the collection.

I'd also like to thank each of the participating artists 

for taking part and sharing their fabulous works.

 

This will most definitely be a collection of works to be treasured,

and to look back on as marking this time in our lives with a particular poignancy.

Thanks for visiting!