Reservoir Romanticism

Reservoir Romanticism

Conor Clarke, 2020
Single-channel HD digital video, colour, sound, duration 1 min 28 sec
Courtesy of the artist and Two Rooms, with thanks to Krzysztof Wysocki and University of Canterbury Campus Security

For some years, artist Conor Clark (Ngāi Tahu) has been exploring the sleight of hand potential of photography. More recently she has experimented with video, bringing her photographic tendencies with her to draw out the sensuousness of moving image. Perceptions of nature and our relationships to water are also consistent themes for Clarke.

Shot on her cellphone, Reservoir Romanticism documents a range of water sources Clarke discovered within a one kilometre radius from her home. It is an experiential map of sorts, and an ode to hard-working waters.

Spheres: An Online Video Project

An online series of moving image works exploring social distance and personal environments including works from Xin Cheng, John Chrisstoffels, Conor Clarke, Ronnie van Hout, Sonya Lacey, Janet Lilo, Sione Monu, James Oram, Nova Paul, Bridget Reweti, Sriwhana Spong and Matavai Taulangau.

Considering the recent popularity of the word ‘bubble’, the Spheres series examines how we interact, and our emotions, thoughts and sensations in relation to our surroundings. German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk described societal structure spatially, as spheres expanding from intimate bubbles to globes and foams. These works offer different perspectives on social distance, personal environments and the close radius of home. 

We invited artists to share something of their spheres, the ideas and places they live with and around. Their works touch on a variety of concerns, from environmental issues to consumerism and the importance of preserving cultural knowledge. Experienced online, they also reflect on representation and the contemporary circulation of imagery and information, the transfer to digital that allows us to reach out into the world.