On Saturday an expression of beauty was produced in remembrance to the fires that recently destroyed iconic local business’s of Raglans wharf. A land based installation art work was created from all natural materials on the open site remaining after the fire.
The work was produced by two emerging New Zealand artists Karma Barnes and Ekarasa Prem. It was a community event, with the work being facilitated by the artists and open to community participating in the creation.
A large 8 meter diameter installation was built on the site, Using all natural materials, including Raglan sand, rich red soils and coffee grounds. A theme of Matariki was woven into the design. The Raglan community was excited about the project, throughout the day people participated in the creative process of building the installation and spectators were delighted to view the work progress throughout the day.
“Its like a beautiful phoenix rising out of the ashes”, one spectator expressed.
As the day drew to a close a large group of woman from the Maori visual arts program held at Poihakena, brought a magic energy that sweaped over the installation and its completion.
The use of natural materials means that the work by nature is impermanent and naturally deconstructed with the winter elements.
The work is part of an on-going series of work they began in Wellington in 2008 and has featured at Wellington’s Water front as part of the Wellington Fringe Festival of the Arts 2009.
Of particular significance, the project was recently developed at the El Hayelo artist residency,in the desert of Villa de Leyva, Colombia, South America, as part of an international artist residency program.
Since returning to New Zealand the project has featured in the ‘Universal Unfoldings Exhibition’, at Raglan’s Old School Arts Centre and most recently an installation was produced at the Raglan community fundraiser for a small business effected by the fire.
Next up for the project has been invited to exhibit in Australia, the documentation from Raglan will feature in this.
“The Raglan wharf project has been a great community event, we are looking forward to producing more installations in the Waikato Region”, say the artists.
The focus of the on-going project is to reconnect people and the environment. Through the development of human relations to art and nature and the use of natural materials via impermanent land based installation art works. The ephemeral nature of the work offers the insight that we are not separate to the land and that direct changes with our relationship to the earth need to occur promptly to create a sustainable future.
Media Release: Weaving the circle,
Contact Karma Barnes: 021 024 34 079 Email: karmavalarupy@hotmail.com