- By Times’ Junior Journalist Jianna Kapoor
At Uxbridge Arts and Culture in Howick, the walls are covered with a vast variety of artwork, but it’s not just any artwork – it’s the kind of art that tells the story of the Tamaki Estuary.
I recently visited Uxbridge to observe the behind-the-scenes process of the Estuary Art and Ecology Awards.
When I stepped into the room, all I could notice was the effort and time it must have taken to transform scraps of nature’s inspiration into artwork.
What I loved about some of the art pieces was that they didn’t need an explanation.
One could instantly understand what the story was about in a way that words couldn’t possibly explain.
This year marks Uxbridge’s 19th Estuary Art and Ecology Awards. There were over 80 submissions, and 17 artists were selected as finalists.
One of my favourites is a leopard created in patchwork by Rose Lee using just fast-fashion fabrics, which took about 60 hours to complete.
Others are about some kuaka birds resting at the Tamaki Estuary, waiting to migrate, by Tony Clarke, and another about an eel linked to a chain.
The artist, Charli de Koning, explains it as: “Like eels we’re chained to water for survival”.
Later I got the privilege to attend the Estuary Art and Ecology Awards.
First place was awarded to Lucy Boermans for her work titled sitting-with, a beautiful blend of photography and spoken word poetry uncovering the importance of sitting with the estuary, truly listening to it, and then taking action.
It’s how Mother Nature gives us everything we need, but we don’t listen to what she wants in return.
Second place went to Rose Lee, who created the leopard in a unique patchwork titled Nasty Temper.
This story takes place about 100 years ago, when a bad-tempered leopard from India was brought to Auckland Zoo.
Three days after the leopard arrived at Auckland Zoo, it went missing. Everyone assumed she’d slipped out of the cage bars.
Sometime later, they found the leopard – sadly, dead at the mouth of the Tamaki Estuary.
It appeared that on her journey around Auckland the leopard had fallen into dangerous, toxic tanning chemicals before falling into the mud.
This art showed how we should cause less pollution to be kaitiakitanga, guardians of not just the estuaries, the amazing world we live in today.
Third place was awarded to Saskia Eliane Van Djjk, who used oil paints on a wooden board, her work titled Intertidal Archive.
The painting depicts an incident in 1984 when a chemical fire occurred and released toxic chemicals into the estuary.
It shows the top reflection of the water, which is both murky and luminous.
How we can use our loss as a reason to make a change, together as a community.
There were numerous other artworks. I’m sure that everyone will connect to something there and will think about the environment.
When I entered the exhibition to when I exited it, I was a completely different person, much more aware, much more concerned and much more eager to make a change about the impact we make on our surroundings and the environment.
I urge everyone to go visit the exhibition. This is free for all and is on display till 30th August.
- Jianna Kapoor is in year 7 at Somerville Intermediate School.
