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WWW.RATEMYCOURSE.CO.NZ CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR COURSE
18 DESMOND LAM 10 DELENA NATHURAN
22 Eva Martin 14 ZOE ZHANG
Monday 27 august 2012
24 certificate in applied technology furniture & cabinet making
17 keith filo
9 CHRIS PASCUAL
Disclaimer Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Submissions and contributors are welcome, but the publisher reserves the right to select and edit the material submitted. Materials submitted will remain property of the publisher unless alternative arrangements are made.
8 ALEXIS PREBBLE
12 BLAKE BECKFORD
20 sam molyneaux
40 renee lyons
cover by: asinate moa tina pihema
28 asinate moa tina pihema
45 reece king
34 misha uteev
42 contemporary jewellery
26 NICO rivera
44 brad elliot
48 JAMES SIEVErs
50 Whaitiri Mikaere
38 NICK BAILLiE 30 sanji karu CONTRIBUTORS: Shannon Pennefather, Nicki Spring, Natalie Wilcox, Nigel Robert Special Thanks to: Leon Fourie, TBE Staff and all the other wonderful artists for contributing to the 2012 Creative Issue. Check the Studentmediahub.com for more Unitec Creative Students.
46 jay hall Editorial Inquiries ph. (09) 815 4321 ext 7927 Editor: Jayne King Graphic Designer: Mark Lovatt Advertising Inquiries ph. (09) 815 4321 ext 7383 usucommunication@unitec.ac.nz
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We want to celebrate all our Creative Students! Monday 3rd September, 121.30pm Free Bbq, Live Graffiti Art by Misha Uteev, Music, RedBull Wings team and more.
welcome
The Creative Issue
Check it Out
Editorial cre·a·tive/krē'ātiv/ Adjective: Relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work: "creative writing". Noun: A person who is creative, esp. in a professional context. When you search the definition of ‘creative’ through google, you come up with the above. Typically, creativity is associated with arts and design however we find that all students from all disciplines create new and original ideas daily. So the aim of this issue was to engage as many students across disciplines and showcase their creativity in their respective fields. One of my more recently acquired creative talents is pinboarding on pinterest (don’t judge!). Given my personal time constraints this allows me to produce art on the daily. Maybe in another lifetime, I will get the opportunity to fine-tune my creative dreams but for now this medium quenches my artistic thirst. The creative issue was designed in mind to showcase as many creative students as possible campus wide. Most contributors have provided their own commentary with their work, offering us more insight into their creative minds. It was an honour to get out and about and meet all of the students featured and I look forward to meeting many more!
President's Tirade
Joing us at Building 1 on
Kia Ora Unitec It’s time to get creative and man is Unitec a good place to do it! Whether you are painting or making jewellery in a padded cell (yes we do that!), dancing acting or making movies, the artsy crowd add life and value to our community. This issue contains some amazing examples of work produced on campus and stories about the people who make it happen. The best way to experience the full flavour of the creativity on campus is to get amongst it. Keep an eye out for the plays, shows and exhibitions that are always running on campus. Coro fest (short for choreography not coronation street) is a favourite of mine. It’s a chance to feel high brow for a few hours as you try to interpret the interpretative dance. Also look out for the Grad Show at the end of semester where you will see the finest work produced by our architects, graphic designers and visual artists (plus free beer!). That’s all, stay cool Shannon
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A Word From the Dean leon de wet fourie
executive dean, faculty of creative industries and business
welcome
22% more than Auckland’s workforce mean income. Within the creative sector it is also true that those in the creative segments of digital content, advertising and marketing, radio and television earn higher incomes than those in visual arts, music and performing arts. Not only has the creative industries become increasingly relevant as an economic contributor, but it is also generally accepted that the industries of the twenty-first century will depend increasingly on the generation of knowledge through creativity and innovation. For example, contributing to growth in areas such as education and manufacturing, by adopting design-led principles and/or digital tools and innovation. Furthermore, the creative industries contributes significantly to New Zealand’s international profile, for example the development of quality education resources used by teachers around the world in the fields of literacy, biology and mathematics or industry-leading animation software that evolved out of the New Zealand-made trilogy The Lord of the Rings. It is with great interest and pride that I view student work in architecture, performing and screen arts, landscape architecture, computing, design & visual arts at the annual GradShow. It is heartening to see how your study programmes and student work are keeping pace with the mind-boggling transformative power of broadband internet services particularly in developing digital content and the delivery of products across different media and platforms. I can only conclude that the future of the creative industries in New Zealand continues to be in good hands!
The Creative Issue
What a wonderful privilege for us to work, live and study in Auckland! A city of unique and amazing opportunities: great location, beautiful scenery, envied size and scale, lovely climate, vibrant colours, infectious energy, immersed history and enriching ethnic diversity. The potential of harnessing these opportunities in an imaginative and even courageous way in our work, play and learning is bountiful. It is a canvas of unrestricted outcomes! What a privilege to have this as a back-drop if you are a creative industries scholar! Unitec continues to deliver on its responsibility to contribute towards growth, innovation, knowledge and skills development in the creative economy: performing arts, design, screen production, advertising, architecture, landscape architecture, visual arts, research and development, crafts, fashion, music, publishing, software, digital content, and even video games. Creatives make up nearly 9% of Auckland’s total employment which is greater than Sydney, even though Sydney has a workforce three times the size of Auckland. When compared with cities of a similar workforce, Auckland has approximately 70% higher creative density than Perth and 50% higher than Brisbane. The New Zealand creative industries represent a massive economic driver and creative employment generates almost $3 billion each year in direct wages and salaries. Over the past 10 years Auckland’s creative employment grew at a faster rate (an average of 5.5% per annum) than its total workforce (3.3%). On average, those in creative employment earn around
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Alexis Prebble
ALEXIS PREBBLE
The Creative Issue
Bachelor of design and visual arts 3RD YEAR
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Chris Pascual
Bachelor of design and visual arts 3RD YEAR www.facebook.com/Pakito.Harlequino
The Creative Issue Canvas acts as a diary that doesn’t need words to understand how I feel. I am showcasing (and selling) more of my paintings at The Long Black Café in Building 1, Mt. Albert Campus starting on the 27th of August. My show will run for two weeks (and is called “Chris’s Kisses”. I am also doing a group show with my fellow third year Visual Arts students also starting, on the 27th of August. This will be a silent auction and fundraiser, and all proceeds go towards the Grad Show at the end of the year. Bids close on Friday 31st August and a Closing Night will be held that night (5-7pm) at the Library Foyer in Building 1, Mt. Albert Campus. So make sure you come along, enjoy our hospitality, and make a bid on some awesome artworks (and, of course, free food and booze will be provided).
CHRIS PASCUAL
I am currently undergoing my third year of the Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts where I am majoring in Visual Arts (painting). I'm looking to carry on showcasing my works to the public for they are missing a lot of the good stuff in the arts. To describe my works, they are: whacky; gestural; quirky; abstract expressionistic; experimental; confusing; playful. Upon seeing these artworks for yourself I believe you will agree too. With the varied amounts of mark making all intertwining universally to become one funky figure I intend the viewer to question the depths of what they are really seeing. Background is the figure? Figure is the background? What is really in front of us? It is these kinds of questions the viewers will ask themselves. It will make the viewer think twice (or maybe more) about what is truly in their perception. Because of this, it is a lot of fun seeing viewers really look at the painting. Whether they are squinting, looking at the fine details, or questioning the very nature of the figure they see. I believe this is what makes my works stand out. Not only do I use a wide funky range of colours that make you reminisce an old school rap video or 70's disco floor, but the FUN in painting (and process) is evident in the final work.
DELENA NATHURAN
The Creative Issue
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Delena Nathuran BDVA PhotographY 2ND YEAR www.delenanathuran.com
My Mother co-owns a five-acre rural section in Swanson with my grandfather. She has a three-bedroom home and a separate 130sq metre barn/garage. May the 13th 2012, 3pm. My phone rings and it’s my sister in law, She sounds panicked and tells me there is smoke coming out of the garage, and is my mother there? She is really worried and curses the fire engine for taking so long. I ask questions, feeling panicked and worried. I hang up and call my mum. Your garage is on fire! I tell her to head home and call me a.s.a.p. I try to call my sister in law back but the phone is engaged. I feel sick. I tell myself it’s fine, it’s just a little smoke it will be fine. I was just there on Thursday wanting my Dad’s belongings out of storage for a photo assignment. I’m thinking about all the stuff that is in the garage. I call my mum, no answer. I feel really worried but tell myself, it’s fine, it’s just small, the fire engines will be there soon and it will all be ok. I try calling back, no answer. I don’t want to call my mum as she is probably driving. I pace around, restless, worried. It’s just a garage! Thank goodness it’s not the house. But all the stuff in storage, I’m worried. Most of the things I have left of my dad's are in there, and all my childhood memorabilia, my brother's business, my granddad's tools, my mum put all my grandmother's stuff in storage, didn’t she? What has mum got down there? My dad's 1968 Ford Mercury Cougar! Oh no! Not the car. Half an hour later the phone rings. It’s mum. She tells me it’s bad, it’s all destroyed. I cry and cry. My five-year-old sits on my lap and wipes my tears, “what’s wrong mummy, don’t cry”. I explain. He says “don’t worry mummy, your dad died, he wont growl you that his stuff is ruined”. Two days later I went back with my camera.
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DELENA NATHURAN
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Blake Beckford
BLAKE BECKFORD
The Creative Issue
BDVA PAINTING 2ND YEAR www.facebook.com/blakebeckfordart
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The Creative Issue
BLAKE BECKFORD
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ZOE ZHANG
The Creative Issue
Visual Weapon Inspired by John Hearfield and Banksy’s idea of combined art and politics and belief that art has power to maintain and change society. My work uses photography as a political approach to ridicule and go against War. These images are freedom of speech, peace, and the constant struggle against political hypocrisy. The aim is to cultivate a consciously cynical, critical and political content mixed with humour and irony. This series of constructed settings or outdoor environments with soldier dolls is to inform black humour combined with a message of anti-war protest.
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Zoe Zhang
BDVA Photography 3RD YEAR
The Creative Issue
Zoe has been a graphic designer for a few years. She has been using photography as a core medium for art inspiration and ideas. Her passion for learning and experimenting social issues is linked with her fine art photography. Zoe was born and grew up in China; she has been living in New Zealand for over ten years. As a new migrant, she has been influenced by both Western and Eastern culture of art. Zoe’s primary focus has been on identity, with its highly conceptual yet simple composition. Her vision of lighting, eye for composition, and unique way of seeing colours, enables her to create extraordinary images out of ordinary. Zoe’s work has been exhibited in the Auckland photography festival. She has been an awarded several design and photography awards internationally and locally. For example, winner of the “Coexistence” in Tertiary Category; Finalist of “HeXie” Awards in China; finalist of AIPA Imagenation 2012. Her photography also has been published in Threaded magazine. Zoe is finishing her final year of a Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts, majoring in photography at Unitec New Zealand.
ZOE ZHANG
ZOE ZHANG
The Creative Issue
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Belonging This project explores the experiences of cultural difference. As a young Chinese new immigrant living in New Zealand for over 10 years, I have drawn on the idea of home and loneliness, and interrogated the notion of confusion in the sense of belonging. My photographic work focuses on the emotional conflicts and struggles that emerge in the space between two cultures. Together with the lamentations of the loss of identity, my photography allegorically represents the internal motivation behind the civic social ideology of Chinese migrants. This series of object-based photographs also contains elements of The self-portrait and is informed by first-hand travel experiences, and an observation of conflicts of cultures, understandings and ideas. Capturing the conflicts of contemporary Chinese life, I have staged compositions offer a consideration of the idea between the ‘missing’ and the ‘finding’.
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unitec social practice sound, Keith formed the band Concrete Jungle, which is starting to gain some recognition and potential, making the Battle of the Bands NZ finals. Concrete Jungle’s music is a unique original sound, mixing ideas from rock, hip hop, funk, R&B and reggae. Keith's goal in music is to get exposure in the mainstream while still holding his studies as the main priority. Although his music has a range of themes, he is in the process of writing more conscious music that outlines the impacts of globalisation towards people in the struggle. His views, which range from post modernist, socialist to feminist perspectives, will at times be heard through the music and hopefully one day provide awareness for the people regardless of race, ethnicity, social status and gender. KEITH'S NEXT GIG: NZ Battle of the Bands Final. WHERE: Kings Arms, 59 France St, Newton, Auckland central. WHEN: Friday 31st August 2012, starts around 7pm. WHO: 16 bands from all over the country.
KEITH FILO
Keith is a 33year old, 1st year Social Practise student, father of 2 and also frontman in a band known as “Concrete Jungle.� He was born and raised in a diverse, multi-cultural working class environment in central Wellington, but now considers Auckland home. After spending 4 years as an infantryman in the NZ Army (1RNZIR), He became a youth worker in various agencies, inspired by the struggles he faced throughout his upbringing which relate to relative poverty. This influenced his decision towards studying Social Practise at Unitec. His goal is to become a qualified social worker to help families and communities in need, prefereably in the working class. So far he has achieved an -A grade point average and a scholarship under the Men's Health Trust NZ, which has really helped to alleviate some financial stress as a student and father in a committed relationship. While studying he also balances his life with family time and music. During Keiths time in the millitary he began hearing musical ideas which led him towards buying a synthesizer in order to bring these sounds to life. In search of a more live and raw
The Creative Issue
Keith Filo
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Desmond Lam On studying Architecture abroad in Germany
The Creative Issue
Architecture
DESMOND LAM
ABOVE: ECO-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY GARDENS
What comes to your mind when you hear the word Europe? Beer? Eifel Tower? Mercedes Benz and BMW? Mona Lisa? Escargots? Colosseum? Pickpockets? Leaning Tower of Pisa? What about the grassy smell of marijuana in Amsterdam? Well luckily for me, I was able to experience all of that and it’s all because of Unitec’s Outbound Student Exchange Programme in Wismar Germany. The 5 month adventure was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to live in a new city and experience a new culture that greatly expanded my perception of the world and furthered my personal growth. My time in
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ABOVE: CHILDRENS PUBLIC SPACE
at the end of the semester (I still can’t get over that haha!). Also, they had very little lectures which meant I only had classes 1 day a week. That’s right, 6 day weekends! Okay I admit, I must’ve skipped a few lectures here and there. What I noticed was their strong focus on self-learning and motivation which I had to get used to and by the end of the semester, I had adapted to their style of learning and working. Studying in another country was definitely worth it and gave me the opportunity to experience architecture from the other side of the world in real life. Instead of looking at slide shows full of photographs or reading about architecture
that was so far away, I was be able to experience architecture in real life, in person. Being able to physically touch, smell, taste, walk through and see iconic buildings was a magnificent feeling. The exchange brought the feeling of experiencing architecture to a whole new dimension, one which a two-dimensional photograph could never convey, no matter how colourful or well composed. Because of the exchange, my architectural knowledge was developed further and I was able to take my passion for architecture to the next level. Thanks Unijet!
DESMOND LAM
Germany was a real-eye opener for me, and I have gained many valuable memories and experiences. I made friends I’ll never forget about and went to places I had only seen in movies and could only dream about. During my epic travels around Europe, I also completed Semester 1 of my final year of my Architecture degree. Not knowing German beforehand was definitely a bit troublesome, but luckily I was surrounded by friendly professors who spoke fluent English and helped immensely. In terms of class structure and how we were taught information, it was very different compared to studying at Unitec. All the papers I took were solely project based, so I had no exams
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sam molyneaux
The Creative Issue
Elyse brock: “I enjoy being surrounded by people who share the same drive and see things the same way i see things.”
Sam Molyneaux Graduate Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts Theatre Directing
Every year the Performing and Screen Arts Department here at Unitec is releasing new up and coming talent into the industry whether they be Actors, Directors, Writers, Technicians, Dancers etc. The thing that separates Unitec from other Performing Arts Institutions in the country is that they incorporate every major throughout their learning which in turn allows them to leave their academic career with a network of “creatives” who can then go on to make their own works and establish a name for themselves. Coming up in September is an example of this. Goddess, which is a part of a double bill that’s going on at The Basement Theatre, is a project that was written and produced by a Unitec graduate, Sam Brooks. The cast includes actors Taofia Pelesasa and Elyse Brock, who are also Unitec graduates, and a current student, Amanda Tito, who is using this as part of her secondment which applies to her curriculum. All technical components such as stage management, lighting, sound and AV are being executed by current students Amber Molloy, Tanya Furssedonn and Jaz Davis. Finally, Goddess is directed by a Unitec graduate: yours truly. Goddess details the idiosyncratic, simultaneously troubled and blissful friendship between two people who couldn’t appear more similar, or be so
fundamentally different. A visual delight, Goddess explores the lines that blur memory and reality, and how close we hold our own experiences to us. It is a darkly comic story which will chill you to your core. Both stories being told during this double bill are new, original works by Sam Brooks and delve into places that society often forgets. We enjoy exploring and pushing boundaries, addressing issues and making statements that are often lost in other forms of media. If you would like to come and support your graduates and Unitec students, and also see two great pieces of theatre for the price of one, then head to www.iticket.co.nz and book your tickets For the “Goddess & Mab’s Room Double Bill”. The season runs from the 4th-8th of September at The Basement Theatre in the CBD. Written by Samantha Molyneux
21 Taofia Pelesasa: “This piece is even more rewarding because a friend wrote it, a friend is directing it and I’m on stage with friends.”
The Creative Issue
Samantha Molyneux: “This is all an independent endeavour. We pay for it ourselves, we do the work ourselves, we source everything ourselves and gain the support of generous and amazing people who help us bring our vision to fruition. It’s a labour of love.”
sam molyneaux
Amanda Tito: “I like the moment when I see the world. It might not necessarily be when I pick up the script, but when it becomes clear it puts me in my happy pants.”
Eva Martin
Eva Martin
The Creative Issue
BDVA Graphic design 3RD YEAR
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Eva Martin
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certificate in applied technology
furniture & cabinet making
The Creative Issue
Furniture & Cabinet Making Bachelor of Communications fist year student Nicki Spring visits students at work in the Certificate of Furniture and Cabinet Making. Here and now we explore the unexplored and kick it with the sixteen students currently completing the certificate in furniture and cabinet making. In all honesty, if my past experience with woodwork was anything to go by, I had no idea what to expect…which looking back was probably the best. Jaw dropped and completely in awe I asked around the wood work room to find out ‘Why? What? When? How? And lastly, WTF?’ Because it’s not every day I run out of words—just ask around if you don’t believe me—but in that room I was in awe. Let’s not assume though, to get it out there, that this class was completely ‘repping’ it for the boys, a couple of girls had their hands in there too. Anna Wong, uninterested with the prospect of a desk job took to woodwork with her own creative flare; merging functionality and artistic direction to produce pieces that in production looked pretty wicked—don’t quote me on that. That was just the start of it though, with works that ranged from miniature marine cabinets to massive marine cabinets—guess which one is harder—made by students either fresh from high school, or fresh out of jobs better left behind them. Fresh ideas that resonated in the room included transformers and circular book shelving; it makes everything I ever came up with in woodwork look like child’s play. ‘The Shane’, Matt Logan, Tim Simpkin, just to name a few are steadfastly looking forward to their futures …there’s talk of opening specialty stores or even crossing the ditch and testing the tools of the trade there. The world is their oyster and I cannot wait to see the size of that pearl!
images by natalie wilcox
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furniture & cabinet making
NICO rivera The Creative Issue
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BDVA Interior Design 2ND YEAR
“Death ends a life, not a relationship.” ~Morrie Schwartz
NICO rivera
For my theatre set design brief, I’ve chosen the two man play “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Jeffrey Hatcher. The story is based on an autobiographical novel by Mitch Albom. The play follows the final moments of an old and terminally ill sociology professor Morrie Schwartz and how he teaches his friend and former student Mitch about the meaning of life, love and death.... every Tuesday. The concept behind this layout was to introduce elements of domesticity and to present hints of metaphors that relate back into the story. Hints, like the hospital green colours which represent Morrie’s constant need for medical care and the hibiscus plant that slowly withers as Morrie’s condition gets worse. The main focus of this design was the final scene; after Morrie passes away. The back wall opens up to reveal the final scene of Morrie’s ideal burial site which was on a hill, under a tree, next to a park bench, overlooking the sunset. At this point in the play, while Mitch narrates his final moments with Morrie, Morrie’s character gets up from his deathbed and slowly makes his way to the final scene where he does a slow waltz with himself.
The Creative Issue
Nico Rivera
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asinate moa / tina pihema
The Creative Issue
Tina a m e Pih
e t a Asin Moa
RD YEAR gn 3 i om s e cD ess.c i r h p p d or Gra 012.w B DVA 2 a d .g www
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The Creative Issue While this year has seen Tina and Nate work closely on numerous community based projects, their current project “Tahi Kai” is their design concept to raise awareness on child poverty in NZ. Tahi Kai is an online notice board that will focus on the community sharing food and resources to create awareness around child poverty. With the use of positive branding our intention is to empower the community, and by using our website we encourage sharing, giving and building communities which is the key to solving social issues.
asinate moa / tina pihema
Asinate Moa and Tina Pihema are 3rd year Graphic Design students at Unitec. This talented duo bonded over ham and cheese sandwiches in 2010 and a mutual love of music, fashion and the arts. This random friendship was destined for good things. Amidst their studies, and foraging for food, an unexpected opportunity arose to collaborate together. Forces were joined to provide an in depth mapping of a local project in 2011. Point Chevalier Homestead was the obvious choice for the dynamic duo given its close proximity. The project promoted their strong working relationship which allowed them to work on their current project “Tahi Kai”.
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Sanji Karu
sanji karu
The Creative Issue
BDVA Photography 2ND YEAR www.skaraesthetics.com www.skaraesthetics.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/Skar.Aesthetics
My name is Sanji Karu and I am studying the Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts: Photography major at Unitec. I came to New Zealand about 4 years ago to study Automotive Engineering. Back then photography was a hobby for me. I have always liked photography and had great interest, but I never had the money to pursue it. As time went by, and my interest and dedication grew, I started photographing events and concerts. In 2009 I was presented with the opportunity to photograph a performing group at Rhythm & Vines. This was the turning point for me; I had finished my automotive course but I had not enrolled in the Bachelor. After photographing at R&V 2009, I arrived at the decision to enrol in photography. Since then I have explored many different genres of photography. I felt that I should explore my strengths and weakness to figure out what areas I may apply to my practice. I use the alias Skar Aesthetics for my photography practice. In today’s world digital photography has allowed a lot more people to photograph whatever they are interested in. I have always had a fascination with film photography, but didn’t know much about it. I have great respect for anyone who is confident using a manual film camera. You have to be pretty competent with your technical skills when operating a film camera. I purchased my first film camera in 2011; it was a 1975 Nikkormat FT2, full manual. I also picked up a 1972 Olympus OM-1 later that year, which is also manual. I felt that shooting on film would improve my digital shoots. We often take for granted the amount of pictures we can take with digital cameras. Shooting on film made me slow down and think before I took a photo. I had to measure the amount of light in the scene in order to pre-visualize the final image. The development process in film photography is more hands on; I had to learn how to physically develop my negatives in a lab
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sanji karu
sanji karu The Creative Issue
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(something which I have never done before). The images that I am showcasing are some of the first few rolls of 35mm film that I have shot. I mainly shoot film in my free time, but eventually I would love to include it in my practice. Some of these images are taken at Unitec and others from my holiday in Melbourne. I hope you enjoy these images, please feel free to check out my portfolio, blog and Facebook page for more images. Comments and feedback is much appreciated.
sanji karu
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Misha Uteev
WERT159
misha uteev
The Creative Issue
Bachelo
Russian-born architecture student with a passion to graffiti, renowned for his graffiti art paintings, I create under the name WERT159 since 2006. Starting as an illegal tagger and bomber, I soon changed my directions towards legal graffiti artworks where conditions permit to explore and create more complex painting. In search for style, over years portraits were always a dominant source for inspiration. Going from realistic to abstract interpretation of portraits is my latest journey that yet has not came to an end. I like painting faces, people can relate to them to a degree that letter graffiti cannot. My work is contributing to the city scape in positive way; I hope to show that if one uses spray-paint does not mean that he is a talent less vandal. I hope to inspire others to create, to take art to the streets, which should not be solely for advertising things you don’t need or worth, being grey. I am now in my 3rd year BAS programme, combing two passions is hard. However I always try to cross integrate these fields. Architect can learn from graffiti and vice versa. On top of that I am interested in photography, screen-printing and all other art media that I can get my hands on.
r Of Arc
d ie s ral Stu u t c e it h
3 RD YEAR
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misha uteev
misha uteev The Creative Issue
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37 image nigel robert
The Creative Issue
misha uteev
NICK BAILLiE
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Nick Baillie
BDVA Graphic Design 3RD YEAR www.nickbaillie.com
Nick Baillie is a graphic designer and type student from Auckland, New Zealand. Baillie is passionate about typographic design and undertakes projects with a strong focus on the content and communication of design. Each project is considered for its environmental and cultural contexts and his work explores the multiple ways in which typographical language intersects with design formats. Baillie has employed and applied the conventions of type and image across a number of different fields: from magazine to web and advertising. He is currently seeking out industryaligned and self-authored projects that provide an opportunity to critique and expand these conventions in order to push boundaries and locate his own aesthetic modality. Baillie has guest designed for Threaded Magazine, in addition he has interned at Gopher and produced work with various clients including: Billabong, Threaded, The Rugby Site, Unitec Contemporary Craft, UCSA and more.
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NICK BAILLiE
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Renee Lyons
renee lyons
The Creative Issue
Graduate Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts
Jayne King talks to Performing and Screen Arts graduate Renee Lyons.
Renee Lyons graduated from Unitec in 2008, with a Unitec Bachelor of Performing Screen & Arts. Credits to her name include working on the TV3 smash hit –Super City with Madeline Sami and a list of theatre credits to boot. From this list two notable standouts are TOYS (written by Natalie Medlock and Dan Musgrove) and Joseph & Mahina (which she wrote with buddy Tom Sainsbury and acquired her a best NZ play nomination at the Chapmann Tripp awards). This talented actor and writer was in the middle of wrapping up her solo show and was in preparation to perform in The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later when I was given the opportunity to catch up with her for a chat. Slightly out of breathe and anxiously excited I smiled and proceeded to talk business with Renee Lyons. Can you tell me about your current solo show that you are working on? Most recently I have been working on my solo show…it is based on a (true) story about a guy (Nick Chisholm) based in Dunedin. It’s a pretty awesome story! It grabbed me a couple of years ago, but I had to wait for the right moment to make the show. This show right now has been the project I’ve enjoyed the most, because the idea was quite close to me. I knew the guy that I wrote the show about…I knew his brother, not very well… but I realised later on that I knew him.
Are you from Dunedin? No, but I went to University in Christchurch…and his brother went there. I went to Dunedin and met with everybody that’s in the play, and I just feel really connected to the story. It’s been awesome because I’ve been so in control of it myself and with my director. It’s been a really great sort of seamless and fun collaboration.
After graduating from Unitec, how did you find that first initial leap in to the industry? Was it how you imagined? I didn’t really think that far ahead. I went straight out and worked on the Silo ensemble project. It was two plays in a relatively short time. So it was like “theatrical boot camp”…but it was professional and really fun. There were eight of us and we were doing a devised work and a classical play. So I leapt in to that and thought “Great, this is the way it is!” And then that was it for ages! Worked sort of dried up and then there was nothing going… it was kinda disheartening and challenging. What advice do you have for graduate students moving in to this field? I think it’s really important just to keep working on your own stuff even when you have to work on jobs that are soul destroying…they can zap the creative energy right out of you. But it’s important to keep resilient for that not to happen. We had a forum last night after our
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Have you had any influences along your journey? Aidee Walker (she’s also a Unitec grad and Actress). She’s doing this show with me. I really wanted to do my solo, but I was kind of procrastinating and then she said lets do it together as a double bill. Aidee and Abigail Greenwood drove the funding process. Support and pressure from those guys made me do it and… I’ve actually created probably the best thing I’ve ever made…by having their support.
Looking back on your journey, was there anything you would have changed? Was there a strategy? No it hasn’t been and that is what I would’ve changed! Now it’s gonna be strategic. I think it’s gotta be otherwise you end up doing other things…like I have two degrees… and it’s about being smarter and being confident and making better choices. Lastly Renee tells me about THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10 YEARS LATER: It is the epilogue to the iconic Laramie Project. Edited together from interviews within the community of Laramie, Wyoming following the murder of Matthew Shepherd in an apparent hate crime. The epilogue is 100% verbatim with 8 actors playing a multitude of roles, from cops to priests, mothers to criminals. You can see Renee performing in The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later (28 August8 September). You can find more information about this at www.basementtheatre.co.nz
renee lyons
Has anyone inspired you or helped fine tune your professional skills? A woman that I have become friends with– Anna Marbrook, she works here, at Unitec sometimes–directing plays. She also writes and directs for film. She has always really encouraged me and she met with me one day and said... [something really nice that Renee asked me not to print–wish granted!]...and that she would be willing to support me in what ever way she could to help…. It’s been more just the fact that she was willing to invest that in me that made
me go “I must be alright.” I did this 15 minute monologue… and just her response to that made me go “oh now it's time for me to go and write a solo show. So that moment! [Renee warmly shares the fact that Anna’s unaware of this] That moment made me go, “Right that’s my next thing!”
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show and I met this Spanish director and we were talking about this same kind of thing... And she was saying, “You have to get up each morning, think about, write about, and take the time to be in your thing before you start your day. So start the day and inject that in to your life!” The more I go on, the more I realise that I can make money from the things I actually enjoy.
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Contemporary Jewellery
ayako kusuzawa
The Creative Issue
Ayako Kusuzawa
Qing Ye
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qing ye
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Brad Elliot
brad elliot
The Creative Issue
Certificate in Applied Technology (Furniture and Cabinetmaking) 2nd semester Seen it, lived it, done it and come back! With a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design) from Elam (1995-1999), you’d have thought Brad Elliott was set for life and enjoying a career in graphic design…right? You’d have thought so, but even a career you’ve had to work for isn’t enough to satisfy you. With the intent to complete a degree in sculpture, Brad did what a lot of us dream of doing and took a gap year after his foundation year, to explore Europe. After hitting up every major art gallery and museum he could find, given he’d visited a lot of countries—France, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy with a pit stop in Hong Kong before coming home—Brad saw a few. Has anyone ever been drawn to the furniture in a café? Well, the more Brad saw of Europe, the more he experienced, the more he was drawn to chairs and tables and all the intricacies we would probably overlook. But still, when his time abroad was up, he returned to his degree and although he changed his major from sculpture to design, Brad did continue with his bachelor, and upon completion worked for nearly a decade at a graphic design/screen-printing company as an artist/graphic designer. Nine years is a long time to work with any company, but when the company Brad worked for changed hands, at 37 years old, Brad was left asking himself “what do I really want to do for the rest of my life?” In a MasterChef (hopeful contestant) moment, he decided it was time to do what he wanted to do and follow a dream—to make and design furniture. It’s with great pride and an obvious sense of accomplishment that’s almost palpable you understand how much Brad enjoys what it is he’s currently working on (a marine cabinet), and looks forward to his future projects (campaign furniture— inspired of course by his OE). So, just like the MasterChef contestants, Brad proves it’s never too late to do what want you want— even if you’ve been half way around the world and back again. Written by Nicki Spring
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Reece King
Bachelor of design and visual arts 3rd year
make it straight. Then I will come along with my broom and silk and erect a beautiful city, a city made of stars. Speaking of stars I also study celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth (such as cosmic background radiation). It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe and sociaty. and stuff that involves the study of matter[1] and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force.[2] More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves, that’s physics. And philosophy, and mind stuff .Is Painting dead? Uhmm I stand out from the rest because I stand out. I do painting, sculpture, installation, and every kind of art.
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Counter culture movement. Like bohemian (but not like all hippy dancing around a central fire) cos the now art of NZ is not like bohemian at all, well the mainstream. I like Punk aesthetics, like with GRUNGE, underground, minimalistic, Avantgarde ish, post modernish, iconoclastic and satirical sensibilities, but then go to the gym too, and work out, and be healthy -( I am sculpture). A NZ new wave -Art. To take down the Art hipster (s)(?). Gota take them down, the ones who are personally responsible for destroying the art world. I am going to get employed by the target (NZ art) so it will be easier to infiltrate the mechanics of ‘that’ empire. I will be responsible for the entire scripted to be washed away, cleansed. I will tip letters of terps down the strip (NZ art), so it will be cleansed, and then set on fire. It wont just singe there hair, it will
reece king
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NEED HOSE IN WINGS
The Creative Issue
T HELPING
hall by jay
jay hall
Jay Hall is the Red Bull Student brand Manager at Unitec. He comes along to all our awesome Unitec/ USU events to keep Unitec students stocked up with Red Bull.
FINDING MY WINGS
I don’t know about all of you guys but my Unitec calendar has been action packed, full of excitement and adventure. Semester one has been full of EPIC events brought to students by Unitec, USU and Red Bull, providing a much needed break from the monotony of student life. From the high flying thrills of Paper Wings, the mysteriousness of Airdrop, the door to door service at your dorms, the energy pumping lounges, to the kind of help you actually want during exams, a lot has gone down. I have somehow managed to jump on board of all the major events USU has thrown your way, from SOUNDS IN THE SUN, The International Food Days, eBooks give you wings to the TERTIARY CHALLENGE (we kicked ass by the way). Don’t worry if you have missed out there is much more to come this semester. We have BCONE— dropping in Auckland, which will be HUGE, we have Doodle Art for all the creatives out there, we have the 3on3 Bull Jam and much more.
FUTURE FLIGHT
We have some EPIC competitions coming your way this semester from Red Bull Doodle Art, to Bull Jam. The Bull Jam 3on3 competition is going to be held at Unitec Sports Centre, there are spaces for 15 teams of 4, and each athlete will receive a competitor pack crammed to the brim with EPIC goodies. It is scheduled for Friday the 5th October from 12-4pm, so make sure you’re free to get involved in this amazing FREE event. The event is result of a beautiful partnership between USU and Red Bull, with a whole heap of sponsors jumping on board to give us students a kick ass, FREE, event. The sponsors include Skullcandy, Basketball, Waitakere West Auckland, Coast2Coast Basketball apparel, Burgerfuel, PUMA and some Live performers. There will be spot prizes for spectators, final two teams and the winning team so make sure you register your teams. Information will be posted on the USU Facebook page, and the student media blog. I look forward to hitting up your 21sts, student balls, and lecture theatres this semester whilst studying hard.
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Grand Prize: A personal Red Bull Cooler branded with your winning Doodle and filled with Red Bull for a year! Plus, a canvas recreation of the artwork for your wall at home. Second prize: A case of Red Bull Energy Drink plus a canvas replication print of your Doodle. Both prizes will be announced at a private party where the top doodlers from UNITEC, AUT and Auckland University get to go and celebrate their Picasso-like talents. All dates for the doodle art competition will be on the Red Bull New Zealand website, Student Media Blog www.studentmediahub. com, USU’s Facebook page, and on posters around campus. Last year some amazing talent was discovered at both Massey and Vic, but let’s face it – we’re New Zealand’s most creative campus. Let’s show them what we’ve got and have a Unitec student take Doodle Art out this year! Jay Hall Red Bull SBM Unitec
jay hall
MIND,
at a pop up gallery on campus. Here, students can come and check out all the best doodles and vote for their favorites. Next, the top doodlers along with guests will be chosen and invited to a private exhibition evening where the winners for 2012 will be announced.
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TERTIARY CHALLENGE
Picasso did it in Math class and Warhol in Accounting, so what’s stopping you? We at Red Bull want all you Unitec students to enter their doodles. This semester doodle cards will be coming to a lecture theatre or classroom near you - simply flip them over and start doodling your best work of art using pens, pencils, highlighters, or whatever you can get your hands on! You have two weeks from mid September to drop your marvelous products of procrastination into drop boxes around campus. Doodle Art is essentially an oncampus doodling competition that is hosted by Red Bull. Students can be as creative as they like with their doodles and submit as many entries as they want, although only one entry will be chosen to go through into the top 40. There will be Pop-Up Galleries on campus to show of the best artistic creations Unitec has to offer. Each will be framed and put on display, and then you must vote for your favorite doodle. The Red Bull Wings team will be around campus once the competition has started. They will answer any questions you have, hand out doodle cards and they can also collect finished doodles – of course, also giving you a cold can of Red Bull to get those creative juices flowing. Once the submission period of two weeks is over, the top 40 will be chosen and displayed
James Sievers was one of three Unitec Master of Architecture students that did one semester exchange in India this year at Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPT University) January to June 2012.
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Master of Architecture
James Sievers
JAMES SIEVErs
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JAMES SIEVErs
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Sisters of Verve The Creative Issue
Star clustered up And sister stuck The firebrands of Matariki Are back in the House for Winter! Exuding and beaming Magical wherewithal And the airs and graces Of the uppity ancients Their fast flying words Set the fires Of hearts and minds Leaping and flaming! The sisters of verve Are sisters of verb Their word, rhythm And verse!
Thunderous pulsating thinkers Creative and beautiful Their brilliance unmatched Outrageously rampant Absolutely contagious!
Whaitiri Mikaere
Because, the sisters Are radical, movers And shakers Unique, fearless Intergalactic Beauties! They are the Interstellargentsia And the way Back To the future!!! M. Whaitiri Mikaere (c) Matariki 2012.
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