Seriously talented digital art to promote NZ in Times Square

26 September 2012

“Seriously talented” digital art to promote New Zealand in Times Square – winners announced

“Genuinely overwhelmed by the quality”, “seriously talented” and “will do themselves and New Zealand proud” - that’s how the judges of the Chorus NZ student digital art competition described the 131 entries submitted by tertiary design students from across the country.

Inspired by New Zealand, the winning works will be the centre piece of a digital exhibition which showcases the talents of NZ art students to the world on one of the biggest and most recognisable digital stages - Times Square New York.

The three winners and 10 finalists, chosen by the independent panel of local design industry professionals, are:

Three winners:
• Elspeth Hoskin – Massey University
• Hayley Heartbreak – Media Design School
• Johnson Whitehira – Massey University

10 finalists:
• Cordelle Feau - Elam School of Fine Arts
• Erica Cai - Massey University
• Igor Petrenko - Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design
• Kenneth Merrick - Unitec
• Matt Clouston - Natcol
• Michael Atkins - AUT
• Rhianna McCormick Burns - AUT
• Riley Sanders - Massey University
• Samara Pepperell - Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design
• Tatiana Tavares – AUT

The overall quality of work impressed all three judges.

Inside Out Productions Mike Mizrahi was genuinely overwhelmed by the quality of the entries. “This is a great opportunity for these artists to present their work in New York, and they will do themselves and New Zealand proud.”

Tangible Media Publisher Vincent Heeringa felt the works represented the highest quality in digital art. “As often happens the difference between the top entries was minimal, but the winners took it out because they were based on a great idea. Well done to the thinkers!”

Production Designer Phil Ivey was pretty excited by the range of work presented and the skills. “Its great to see the next wave of talented graphic designers, animators and concept illustrators coming through, the standard of work was incredibly high and I look forward to seeing these people make their mark locally and internationally.”

Chorus Head of Communications & Brand, Melanie Marshall said it’s fantastic to play a part in getting these inspired digital designs onto the world stage.

The digital exhibit is part of Chorus’ campaign to promote some of the benefits a fibre optic network can bring. In this case how digital art can be transported via fibre technology and shared not just in New Zealand but to the world.

“A fibre optic network will be a great help to many NZ industries, like the digital and graphic design sector. It enables them to share work faster and to more people, and help showcase New Zealand to the world,” said Marshall.

Each of the three winners won $5000 and will be flown to New York so they can see their artwork hit the massive digital displays in Times Square on Thursday 10 October. The 10 finalists will also have their work screened in the exhibition and will each receive $1000 prize money each.

Chorus launched the NZ student digital art competition two weeks ago to help create excitement around the benefits the new fibre optic network will deliver for the country.

About the judges

Vincent Heeringa. Teacher, Journalist, evangelist about the commercial value of innovation, Vincent is the Publisher of Idealog - New Zealand’s best business magazine. He has been named Publisher of the Year, and twice named editor of the year.

Phil Ivey. Production Designer. Award winning Phil was an Art Director on the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In 2010 he was nominated for a BAFTA for his production design on District 9. He has just finished filming Neill Blomkamp’s next feature ‘Elysium’.

Mike Mizrahi. From building a sandy silver fern the size of a Ruby field to making a giant Rugby ball to sit under the Effiel tower; Artist Mike Mizrahi is no stranger to putting New Zealand on the world stage. Last year Mike judged design at the Cannes Advertising Festival.

About Chorus
Chorus is New Zealand's largest telecommunications utility company. It maintains and builds a network predominately made up of local telephone exchanges, cabinets and some 1.8 million copper and fibre optic lines connecting homes and businesses throughout the country. Its open access network and innovative new wholesale products and services are used by many different phone and internet service providers, helping them to deliver the services their customers rely on. Chorus is included in the NZX 10 Index comprising New Zealand's 10 largest domestic companies. More information is available at www.chorus.co.nz.

Information on Chorus’ UFB project can be viewed online at: www.chorus.co.nz/ultrafast-broadband

Chorus’ online map outlining its UFB candidate areas, the first year deployment plans and its business fibre area can be viewed at: www.chorus.co.nz/fibre-rollout-map

ENDS

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