A new moving image projection and sound work on the former Municipal Chambers building will explore journeys past and present – including that of the building itself.
The installation, called Te Haerenga is part of Tātai Whetū, Tātai Tangata – a gathering of stars and people – the Christchurch City Council-produced cultural festival marking Matariki in Ōtautahi, which begins on Wednesday night.
Visual artist Sam Emerson (Ngāi Tahu) and sound artist and DJ Bea Gladding (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) have created the eight-minute work exploring southern environments and journeys to faraway lands.
The theme was partly informed by the location for the projection, which is next to the statue of famed Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott.
“It’s a journeys-inspired visual trip – some parts are more literal, showing snow or waves or the wind that comes up from Antarctica – and some are more like the journey of the Municipal Chambers building.
Expect to see a variety of imagery projected onto the building, from old scientific maps and whale illustrations to hand drawn elements created by Sam himself.
“There’s also a lot of 3D work where I’ve recreated the building so I can move lights around the surface and create shadows and movement,” says Sam, who last year created a projection for the Christ Church Cathedral at the Tīrama Mai Festival.
“I could only use certain colour spectrums because the building is red brick. I couldn’t use blues for instance, and some reds get washed out. Even the mortar between the bricks can give its own effect so it’s more whites and high contrasts that I’ve used.”
Sam regularly works in the music industry creating visuals and has worked with Bea Gladding previously in her capacity as a DJ.
“I loved this project,” says Bea.
“We explored the idea of journey and specifically the journey to Antarctica, but I also talked to Sam about the journey Kāi Tahu iwi would have made down here, which would have been unbearably cold at times.
“I thought about how to convey the idea of journey in difficult conditions, using the sound of footsteps in the snow then creating a feedback loop that created this atmosphere of being stuck in a journey.
“There’s also a heartbeat, and recordings of whale song in there – but also some club music in the middle!” she laughs. “We’re going abstract, but music is central to both Sam and my practice, so we had to do a little bit of dance music.”
Tātai Whetū, Tātai Tangata runs from Wednesday 8 July to Saturday 11 July, 5pm-9pm, with events and installations centred around Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Worcester Blvd, Oxford Tce and Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre.