Auck. Photo Fest: Auckland’s Culture Is Shot

Media Release
27 April 2006

The presentation and execution of photography is a powerful way to create, foster and celebrate diversity of culture. Standing at the heart of The Auckland Festival of Photography is CULTURE, which is this year represented by a collection of events that reflect the rich cultural landscape that is Auckland.

The first week of the festival programme offers three outstanding exhibitions which reflect current, historical and international culture. The first INSTAMATIC is an insight into a world that many have never experienced – the world of fashion. Using the chic 70’s icon – the Polaroid camera photographer Henry Y Lee was granted access behind the scenes at NZ Fashion Week to capture the people and personalities out of the publics view and off the runway.

Celebrated Oslo photographer Morten Andersen offers an international cultural perspective with his exhibition DAYS OF NIGHT at St Pauls ST Gallery. His stunning collection of photographs of Toyko, New York and Oslo, taken on the street, in bars and nightclubs, in the underground and in hotels, document man’s struggle for and his pursuit of happiness.

Completing the first week of culture is an exhibition which steps back in time to examine the images that shaped and changed the culture we experience today. In EDWARDIAN TEXTING trained Photolithographer Ted Scott celebrates the work of some of NZ’s finest photographers of their day, by restoring their early tourism postcards and printing them for exhibition at Signal Gallery.

Our cultural heritage is again highlighted in the festival’s second week in GEORGE D VALENTINE and SECURING THE SHADOW. The first exhibition at The Auckland Museum features 30 photographic works of artist George D Valentine, which captures a unique moment in NZ’s history and one of the country’s most celebrated geographical features – The Pink and White Terraces. At the Auckland Central Library SECURING THE SHADOW exhibits the work of early photographers operating in NZ during the nineteenth century including Robert Leaf, Charles Monkton and William Henry Reed. This exhibition also highlights the release of Auckland City Libraries "Photographers Database".

And finally, the series that offers a rare opportunity to meet the people behind the camera. Triangle TV TALKING CULTURE presents nine different discussion topics from photographers in Central, North and West Auckland. Photographers sharing insight into their work include Duleep Samarasinghe, Pauline Herbst and Clay Bodvin. Other industry issues including buying and selling, copyright and the exhibiting of photography will also be brought into a forum for public discussion at the Auckland Art Gallery on the 24th of June when Anna Miles, Ben Plumbly from Webbs Auction House and Maggie Gresson from Artists Alliance step up to the podium for what should be a lively and informative industry debate.

The Auckland Festival of Photography runs 2nd to 24th of June. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE.

Creative Exposure Festival 2006 is supported by Adshel, ASIA NZ Foundation, North Shore City Council, Creative Communities, Community Organisation Grants Scheme, Waitakere City Council, Nikon Camera, NZ Community Trust, Triangle TV, Lion Foundation, Philips, The Trusts, Pub Charity, Auckland City Hobson, Western Bays and The ASB Community Trust.

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