KIRIBATI ARTIST RESIDENCY
As joint recipients of a 2009 Commonwealth Connections artist residency John Howland and myself travelled to the central pacific island nation of Kiribati in 2010.
We stayed with a number of families on several islands in the central and northern Gilbert group of islands including Tarawa, Abaiang,
Marakei, Kuria,and Aranuka.
Setting out initially to investigate the impacts and implications of sea level rise, we encountered a number of additional concerns particularly in Tarawa; including overcrowding, sanitation, the international exploitation of marine resources and the impacts of infrastructure development.
The complexities of these issues became apparent through first hand experiences and through many conversations with people who witnessed immense change throughout their lifetimes.
The residency resulted in a number of artworks including the collaborative work: Studies in Rising and Falling shown in Kiribati, as a part of the Pacific Storms series of exhibitions
http://urbanviti.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/pacific-storms-lusim-land-2/
and at the Melbourne Center for Contemporary Photography (CCP)
http://www.ccp.org.au/exhibitions.php?f=20120208_Night_Projection_Window
As joint recipients of a 2009 Commonwealth Connections artist residency John Howland and myself travelled to the central pacific island nation of Kiribati in 2010.
We stayed with a number of families on several islands in the central and northern Gilbert group of islands including Tarawa, Abaiang,
Marakei, Kuria,and Aranuka.
Setting out initially to investigate the impacts and implications of sea level rise, we encountered a number of additional concerns particularly in Tarawa; including overcrowding, sanitation, the international exploitation of marine resources and the impacts of infrastructure development.
The complexities of these issues became apparent through first hand experiences and through many conversations with people who witnessed immense change throughout their lifetimes.
The residency resulted in a number of artworks including the collaborative work: Studies in Rising and Falling shown in Kiribati, as a part of the Pacific Storms series of exhibitions
http://urbanviti.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/pacific-storms-lusim-land-2/
and at the Melbourne Center for Contemporary Photography (CCP)
http://www.ccp.org.au/exhibitions.php?f=20120208_Night_Projection_Window
Studies and Rising and Falling 2012. (Film Stills)
J Howland & AM O'Keeffe.
J Howland & AM O'Keeffe.
studies_in_rising_and_falling_-_howland_okeeffe_catalogue_jpg_page_1.jpg | |
File Size: | 894 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
studies_in_rising_and_falling_-_howland_okeeffe_catalogue_jpg_page_2.jpg | |
File Size: | 895 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
Film Stills of Studies and Rising and Falling 2010 projected on to water reservoir, Australian High Commission, Tarawa.
J Howland & AM O'Keeffe.
J Howland & AM O'Keeffe.
AM O'Keeffe
Toddy Tree (Water and Wine). 2010.
Coconut toddy ( te Karewe) is a staple of Kiribati cuisine and there are significant protocols surrounding the collection of Te Karewe.. Twice each day toddy is harvested from the fruit bearing spathes of the coconut palm which are expertly bound and tended to extract the sweet and nutritious liquid. Traditionally the liquid is collected in coconut shells (e boou), however with the influx of imported goods coconut shells are increasingly being replaced with plastic bottles.
The bottles are a familiar sight in many households where they often hang on a buried branch to dry after rinsing.
From religion to calrose rice, Kiribati culture has a long been subject to change and exchange as a result of cross cultural contact. With the internet, air travel and a growing array of imported goods the pace of change gathers momentum. In light of this, and growing awareness of environmental concerns which threaten the subsistence way of life, it is pertinent to examine issues of cultural integrity and consider how a precious culture can be sustained.
(Follow link below for further information about te Karewe (Toddy) it also includes a language lesson in I-Kiribati).
http://www.trussel.com/kir/lessons/commlesson41.pdf
Toddy Tree (Water and Wine). 2010.
Coconut toddy ( te Karewe) is a staple of Kiribati cuisine and there are significant protocols surrounding the collection of Te Karewe.. Twice each day toddy is harvested from the fruit bearing spathes of the coconut palm which are expertly bound and tended to extract the sweet and nutritious liquid. Traditionally the liquid is collected in coconut shells (e boou), however with the influx of imported goods coconut shells are increasingly being replaced with plastic bottles.
The bottles are a familiar sight in many households where they often hang on a buried branch to dry after rinsing.
From religion to calrose rice, Kiribati culture has a long been subject to change and exchange as a result of cross cultural contact. With the internet, air travel and a growing array of imported goods the pace of change gathers momentum. In light of this, and growing awareness of environmental concerns which threaten the subsistence way of life, it is pertinent to examine issues of cultural integrity and consider how a precious culture can be sustained.
(Follow link below for further information about te Karewe (Toddy) it also includes a language lesson in I-Kiribati).
http://www.trussel.com/kir/lessons/commlesson41.pdf