Esta de Jong

Blueskin Bay / Waiputai estuary, 2018 Work on paper, plus ceramics

The Blueskin Bay / Waiputai estuary is a constantly changing place, affected on a daily basis by tides and weather, and by longer-term shifts in climate and land use. In 2018, I worked with Candida Savege (national Tipping Points project) as part of the Art+Oceans project. Candida Savage and her team are collecting and analysing samples to study how the estuary responds to the stressors of excess nutrients and sediment.

I’ve collected samples of materials from the area of the estuary: clays, sand, ochre, shells and organic matter. I’ve used these to create ceramic and drawing based works, investigating the properties of these materials and combining them in different proportions. I aim to create art works that explore both the natural processes of erosion and sedimentation that take place in the estuary, and the experimental methods of science.

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Neville Cichon

Fire and Flood Digital photographs, looped

Fire and Flood presents two unique series of artworks on environmental challenges facing us that translate scientific evidence to stimulate much needed dialogue and understanding. A mix of still life and location photography are used to present simple images for the viewer to unpack.

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion is the focus in one series that illustrates the changing nature of the environment and how it may impact our lifestyle. In this series mathematical formulas are united with other signifiers to bring relevance to complex climate change data.

Across the different works featured in Fire and Flood anxiety contrasts with humour in recognition that everyone may not receive one visual communication approach effectively. A consistent theme is the use of everyday objects and this is considered important to form a connection and illustrate how climate change is embedded within our daily lives.