Press release by Nicole Bennik, who is studying Journalism at
What is 'Spectrum'?
Spectrum is the umbrella name for my current body of work, which is centred around New Zealand freshwater. I wanted to use a title that would reflect that we have a wide range of water quality here. It's a kind of brand, if you will.
Where did the idea originate?
I've been aware NZ's water quality is declining for a while; you keep seeing more and more "dangerous water quality" signs. But the reality was really brought home for me in 2009 I went to a freshwater seminar at the Ecology department at Massey University in Palmerston North. Dr Mike Joy was speaking, he's the kind of person that polarises opinions, because he's so passionate about what he does. He's a very good speaker, but it was his statistics about the decline of water quality, and the decline of our native fish that worried me. It happened to coincide with a competition a group called Intersect was running for young artists. Intersect is a network of 'young' professionals concerned with sustainability (I can get you their contact if you like).
The competition they were running was called "Waiora Arteries of Aotearoa" - and they basically asked young arists (under 25) to respond to the topic of Freshwater in New Zealand. It was a really upbeat brief, which was difficult to respond to having just been given all this information, and having been in an institution where you pretty much write your own briefs from year two on, it was quite challenging to respond to something so specific. I entered a proposal for a display fridge (with a glass door) full of baby bottles which contained some of the most contaminated water I could find. I was fully convinced that it was too negative a reaction to such a positive brief, but I ended up winning and being able to create the artwork, which I called New Zealand Pure (a spin on the tourism industry's 100% PURE slogan). It's currently on display in the Otago School of Medicine in Wellington, next to the water cooler.
I did a lot of research leading up to making the work, because I wanted to be fully informed. It focussed entirely on the damage that we are doing to our waterways by presenting the worst. Collecting the water from Oroua River where they pump human effluent from Fielding had a really profound affect on me. I wanted to be able to share that experience, to get other people to collect water from their local streams, rivers and lakes. I've also done a lot of research since, and water is the crux of so much, I felt like I hadn't finished exploring the possibilities of it yet. So I started Spectrum. It's a process of collation - getting as many samples (i.e raw materials) and interactions as possible, as well as working on ways that I can use the water to provoke new lines of thought.
Most of my art is created with the intention to provoke dialogue around this kind of environmental issue - to ask ethical questions, of myself as well as my audience.
At the moment I'm working on a series of portraits of the people who have sent me the water, which I'm painting with their sample on indicator paper that I've made. Depending on the alkalinity/acidity of the water, the paper changes different colours. At least that's the theory! The science of it is harder than it looks.
When is it to be finished?
Upon completion, where will it be 'published'?
It will be assessed in the end of year exhibition at Elam School of Fine Arts. Depending on what finished works come from the project, there are possibilities for exhibiting components in other exhibitions too.
What is the purpose behind it?
What messages do you hope to portray?
I have to be clear, I'm an artist first, not a scientist. The science interests me and is the basis for my research, but I'm making art.
Testing every sample I got would be a huge financial undertaking, so at this stage I'm more interested in the materiality of it, and what I can bring to the subject as an artist.
Testing every sample I got would be a huge financial undertaking, so at this stage I'm more interested in the materiality of it, and what I can bring to the subject as an artist.
I'm hoping to provoke people into thinking about something we take for granted. Water is something, particularly in urban areas, that is concealed, in pipes and drains. It's also something we are lucky to have plenty of here. There is SO much information around water. I could rant all day, but that's not what gets people's attention, and I don't want to give the impression that I'm morally better. I'm working from an position of questioning; I don't want to say "this is wrong" I'm trying to ask "Is this right?" But in a way that hopefully isn't overly didactic or overtly literal. Hopefully by making art, with aesthetic/cultural value out of something so 'every day' it will change the way people see water.
How many people are involved?
How many people are involved?
At the moment, there's 95 members of the facebook group. I've had samples from about 30 people. Some people have been very generous and sent more than one sample, which has been great! I've actually found it very challenging to get people to participate - emails are all well and good, but you get less response than you would if you could actually talk to people face to face, and since I have no funding other than student loans etc, it's very challenging. Art on a shoestring! I've got samples from about 80 different sources so far, but ideally I'd love to have around 300.
Tell us a bit about you & your educational history
Tell us a bit about you & your educational history
birthdate is 4 Oct 1986
New Zealand / British Citizen
Have lived here, Japan and England.
Came back from UK to study Art in NZ in 2007
Was at Quay School of the Arts in Whanganui 2007-2009. Transfered to Elam School of Fine arts (Auckland University) to complete my Honours Year.
I'd like to do an MA in Art and Environment in UK next year, funding dependant/all going well.
If people want to send samples, how do they get ahold of you?
New Zealand / British Citizen
Have lived here, Japan and England.
Came back from UK to study Art in NZ in 2007
Was at Quay School of the Arts in Whanganui 2007-2009. Transfered to Elam School of Fine arts (Auckland University) to complete my Honours Year.
I'd like to do an MA in Art and Environment in UK next year, funding dependant/all going well.
If people want to send samples, how do they get ahold of you?
h2ospectrum@gmail.com or via facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.
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