These portraits explore what it means to be a teen in New Zealand

Interview with Tash Hopkins by John Buckley for i-D Vice

22 January 2019

In her ongoing series 'The Western Springs Project', Tash Hopkins questions the misguided stereotypes placed on New Zealand youth.

It wasn’t until she found herself drawn to photography during a high school assignment that Tash Hopkins even considered it as a prospective career. Following stints assisting under Elaine Constantine and Derek Henderson, Tash has gone on to create a flourishing portfolio of personal work spanning studies of youth communities in Holland’s Friesland, New Zealand’s Western Springs, and a host of people and places in between. With enthralling tact, the last few years have seen Tash’s style take on that of a documentary photographer thrillingly committed to divulging truth — a commitment which is given new life in her latest body of work.

Shot over the last four years, The Western Springs Project lyrically captures youthful intimacy and coming-of-age within a unique corner of Auckland's suburban youth. What began as an interest in documenting teen identity, later came to be a study which questions the media stereotypes imposed upon teens, and the challenges they face today. Tash sat down with us to chat about the themes and stereotypes she set out to unpick with the series.

Read the full interview on i-D Vice

Tash’s work was also covered in our review of Four x Five x Six on the PhotoForum website.