Te Au: Liquid Constituencies
Govett Brewster Art Gallery
3 Dec 2022 — 20 Mar 2023
Bonita Bigham, Megan Cope, Erub Arts, Ruha Fifita, Taloi Havini, INTERPRT, María Francisca Montes Zúñiga, Angela Tiatia, Te Waituhi ā Nuku: Drawing Ecologies, Arielle Walker
The Kuku Biochar Project is featured in Te Au: Liquid Constituencies at the Govett Brewster Gallery in Ngāmotu/New Plymouth. Part documentation and part proposition, this installation represents a moment in time for our project. Photos, drawings, prints, biochar assemblages, stencilled coffee sacks, stencilled weedmatt drawings and a biochar kiln are (hopefully) activating discussion about carbon sequestration and fresh water, ecological restoration. Some of the artworks are just resting here before their real job starts… printed coffee sacks will be filled with biochar and placed at regular intervals in the Waikōkopu stream bed. The stencilled weedmatt will be transported back to the farm to be installed (with several more) along the stream edge, then planted with appropriate native wetland plants.
All photographic artworks by Maija Stevens.
Listen to Dr Huhana Smith talk about the project here:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018877322/prof-huhana-smith-using-biochar-to-restore-whenua
Here are some links for reviews of the exhibition:
https://overland.org.au/2023/06/ko-wai-matou-we-are-water/
https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/Representing-the-Knowledge-of-Many
+ Biochar Stencilling Workshop (February 2023). As part of the GBAG public programming for Te Au: Liquid Constituencies, Monique did a hands-on, public workshop; grinding charcoal, making biochar paint, cutting stencils and printing on to hemp weedmatt samples and/or coffee sacks. During the workshop Monique talked about biochar, how to make it at home and how to use it in your garden or stream restoration projects.
Special thanks to Greg Thomas and Luca Nicholas from the Auckland University of Technology, School of Art & Design Printmaking Lab. The best and most fun printmaking lab in the country! You guys are awesome.
Sincere thanks to the entire Govett-Brewster Art Gallery team for making us feel so welcome.
Thanks to Advance Landscape Systems and Dark Horse Coffee for their enthusiasm for this project.
Undying gratitude to the dream team; Huhana, Maija, Ceiran and Phil!
Photo credit Bryan James (GBAG) – for exhibition photos
Words and detail photos by Monique Jansen
