Blue Radius

Limen Lab

Depot Artspace
28 Clarence Street, Devonport, Auckland

3 – 28 September 2022

Opening 3 September 3-5pm

Sustainable Coasts talk – 15 September @ 6:30pm

Blue Radius is a local exploration of the ecological emergencies taking place along Tāmaki Makaurau coastlines, namely climate change-induced sea level rise.

The exhibition’s starting point is LandRadius|2, an audiovisual exchange between artists, scientists, mana whenua and community activits who share observations and frustrations about the ecological emergency in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Directed by ecological artist Laura Donkers, this meditative film sits beside Coast Under Threat, a photographic essay by Devonport photographer Stephen Perry.

Blue Radius also looks at the ways in which we damage local marine ecology through ongoing extractive practices: mining coastal sand for construction destroys seabed environments, while permits are granted for marina construction on fragile ecological sites. Atareta Black’s kupenga or fishing-net inspired Ngā Aua Rere Kaharunga weaves Mātauranga Māori, whakapapa and kōrero tuku iho or traditional stories together, carefully integrating relationships of the sea, the land, and te taiao, the environment.

A community-led collaboration sees Bianca Ranson and Te Aata Rangimarie Smith’s larger than life carbon stack Tuakana Teina take centre stage as part of this exhibition, representing Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāpuhi and the Protect Pūtiki activist group (Waiheke Island).

Sharing the gallery with Ranson’s community-led carbon sculpture is NIWA’s new Serious Game My Coastal Future, an engaging digital experience for tamariki developed with Hum Interactive and Geo AR Games, and Waiheke Island resident Nââwié Tutugoro’s artistic response to coastal emergencies.

Climate scientists predict that rising shorelines are expected to have a greater impact across Tāmaki Makaurau’s coasts than previously anticipated. Blue Radius brings together art and science to drive home the immediacy of something often too large, world-altering, and seemingly distant to fathom, by looking to local manifestations of ecological collapse that we could be preventing.

This exhibition is made possible with support from Foundation North. It has been devised by Limen Lab, a not-for-profit creative agency that works with communities and organisations to improve perceptions of the environment and attitudes towards nature. At this time of climate crisis and biodiversity loss, Limen Lab promotes art activities and creative experiences that develop engagement and open up perspectives. Limen Lab was set up by ecological artist Laura Donkers. She is based in Kaukapakapa, Auckland and has over 10 years’ experience of working creatively with communities in Auckland and the UK.

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