Over the past few months, I've been working with artists Edwards + Johann on the development of their Rebels, Knights and Other Tomorrows exhibition. It's always fascinating to see works transforming from the 'what-if' stage to reality, but what's made this experience different has being able to witness first-hand a collaboration in progress.

Victoria Edwards and Ina Johann have been working together as Edwards + Johann since 2007, making works in a wide range of media that has included (and often combines) drawing, collage, photography, performance and sculpture. Collaboration as an artistic strategy is not particularly common in New Zealand, and when it does arise it usually takes the form of two artists putting their individual practices temporarily aside to complete a particular body of work (think Ralph Hotere and Bill Culbert, for example). Edwards + Johann, however, draw on the precedent of long-standing European duos such as Fischli & Weiss and Anna und Bernhard Blume. In a terrific artist floortalk on Saturday, Edwards + Johann talked about their partnership as a 'living beast', needing to be constantly 'fed' by a daily studio practice, communication and material exploration. It was also interesting to hear them talk about how the idea of partnership often becomes the subject, as well as the producer, of their works. As they pointed out, string or wire is a common motif, connecting and binding elements together and hands or gloves also appear frequently; reaching out, connecting, crossing over. They described their practice, and also the installation space they have created with Rebels, Knights and Other Tomorrows, as 'a third place' of exploration and possibility.

You can read a great article by Sally Blundell about Edwards + Johann and their collaborative process in our recent Bulletin and also find articles on other collaborations here in New Zealand and elsewhere.