A selection of projects by Ian Clothier for the GHOSTED 2018 web residency
This pdf introduces my work in terms of being an artist, creative director and curator. I am both an independent artist and Director of Creative Research at Intercreate Research Centre. The selection of projects in this file comes from my website ianclothier.com and intercreate.org. Rather than just give you links, I have collected some specific projects together with Ghosted 2018 in mind. Please note that due to the web origin, the look of the projects differs. The contents of this pdf are:
1. SCANZ2018: He Punawai Hohourongo Peace, Water, Power www.intercreate.org/2018-hui/
Earlier this year I was Creative Director of SCANZ2018. I am one of the co-founders of SCANZ which has been running since 2006.
Please do read the hui list of topics, as it gives an idea of the range of cultural context and thinking that we attract. SCANZ is a partnership between Intercreate (I am a founder and am Director of Creative Research there), Te Matahiapo Indigenous Research Organisation, Taranaki Savings Bank Community Trust and Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki. We were strongly supported by Maata Wharehoka a kaumatua (elder) of the Parihaka community.
2. Kanohi kitea http://ianclothier.com/kanohi-kitea
This project was in the public garden of Parihaka, a Māori settlement 40 minutes drive from Nga Motu New Plymouth in Taranaki New Zealand. I live in Ngsa Motu New Plymouth. Parihaka is nationally and internationally known as a beacon of Peace – the families of Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King have visited there.
For this project we mounted LEDs on the gable entrance to the garden. We connected a plant voltage measurer to a very old rosemary bush and the data from the bush was blinked out by the LEDs on the gable.
I often work with collaborators, in this case Andrew Hornblow an engineer who makes his own data measurers.
3. Kauri Flow http://ianclothier.com/kauri-flow
This project also used a tree voltage data sensor. Kauri are large native trees that are dying through Kauri dieback disease, which is known to be spread by humans. This project connected via the internet, a diseased Kauri tree at the Colin McCahon house in Titirangi Auckland, with two Kauri saplings in Te Uru Waitakere public art gallery. The live voltage readings from the trees determined which of 80 audio files are played on the project website. The audio files were all made by indigenous musicians and kaumatua and could be heard in the gallery.
I have a very strong context of the human relationship to the environment in my work and that lead me to projects that connect to nature using data.
4. Sharing the Waiwhakaiho http://waiwhakaiho.intercreate.org/
This is a project I curated. I was commissioned by Massey University in partnership with the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere and Taranaki Regional Council. The project was wide ranging and consisted of creative projects, the project website, videos of farmers and a geologist plus social geographers who recorded locals’ sense of place, all related to the Waiwhakaiho River. The scope and collaboration level is what I would like to draw your attention to with this project. You can see by the titles of the art works, articles and videos, the extent of the project.
5. Wai http://ianclothier.com/wai
Wai was a curatorial project commissioned by ISEA2012 Albuquerque. The project consisted of national and international artists. Wai is Māori for water or flow, which points to the importance of the environment. It was through my work with kaumatua (elder) Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, that water has become and ongoing theme for projects.
2018 hui – Intercreate.org http://www.intercreate.org/2018-hui/
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1 of 8 13/03/2018 1:40 PM 2018 hui – Intercreate.org http://www.intercreate.org/2018-hui/
12th Feb Where What Subject
8.30am Te Piere Depart Te Piere, WITT for Parihaka
9.30am Te Niho Powhiri Concluding with tea and coffee
10am Keynotes Maata Wharehoka Tangata whenua perspectives on He Punawai Hohourongo
Inahaa Te Urutahi Tangata whenua perspectives on He Punawai Hohourongo Waikerepuru
Tonga Karena Tangata whenua perspectives on He Punawai Hohourongo
Nina Czegledy Cross cultural projects with indigenous groups since 1990
12.00pm Creative Azadeh Emadi Video & creative project about river, power and perception
Helen Moore Projection of creative project
12.30pm Lunch
1.30pm Pa Artist present their Presentation in Te Niho then art walkabout and stream visit work Sonja van Kerkhoff, Allan Giddy and Ava Werner
Glen Skipper Understanding the layers of the whenua (land)
3 of 8 13/03/2018 1:40 PM 2018 hui – Intercreate.org http://www.intercreate.org/2018-hui/
Dr Jane Understanding flow and water from a geological perspective Richardson
Emily Bailey, Urs SHMAK & CHI water monitoring and visit to riparian food forest Signer
3.00pm Te Niho Afternoon tea
3.30pm Nature, culture Dr Tracey Benson, The iconography of the sea, natural environment & runic symbols Josiah Jordan
3.45pm Environment Kati Freeman Recent developments in environmental activities engaging the public
4pm Leonardo/ISAST Nina Czegledy Opening remarks from the Leonardo Board and Chair of the Leonardo/ 50th ISAST 50th Committee
4.10pm Leonardo Roger Malina Video made for the event by astrophysicist and art-science exponent video
4.20pm Leonardo Roger Malina live Live as part of Leonardo/ISAST 50th celebrations from Texas
4.35pm Leonardo Dr Janine Speculative weathers, and the next 50 years for electronic art Randerson
4 of 8 13/03/2018 1:40 PM 2018 hui – Intercreate.org http://www.intercreate.org/2018-hui/
4.50pm Te Poroporoaki Niho
5.30pm Depart for Nga Motu, Te Piere and beyond
Saturday February 3rd Residency commences. Orientation at Parihaka, prep for workshops.
Sunday February 4th First day of workshops at Parihaka. All welcome.
Monday February 5th Second day of workshops at Parihaka. All welcome. Visit and participation of Kura schoolchildren.
Sunday February 11th Hui out of town participants arrive in New Plymouth (so that they can attend the morning powhiri the next day). Nighttime light works viewed if applicable.
Monday February 12th Morning session at Parihaka commencing 9.30-10am. Keynotes and presentations.
Lunch
Afternoon session – tour of artworks and artist presentations. Keynotes and presentations.
Leonardo/ISAST 50th presentations and celebration with Roger Malina live from Texas.
Poroporoaki for Peace, Water, Power.
5 of 8 13/03/2018 1:40 PM 2018 hui – Intercreate.org http://www.intercreate.org/2018-hui/
All / 3rd Nature Exhibition / Sharing the Waiwhakaiho / Water*Peace Works
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6 of 8 13/03/2018 1:40 PM ian clothier . com http://ianclothier.com/kanohi-kitea/index.html
KANOHI KITEA
The LEDs of Kanohi Kitea blink data from an old rosemary bush in the maara (garden).
1 of 7 13/03/2018 1:44 PM ian clothier . com http://ianclothier.com/kanohi-kitea/index.html
In the original state.
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Howie Harris in the maara.
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Charissa Warea with some of the harvest of organic Parihaka garlic. The rosemary bush that was the data source is in the background. The audio was motion activated by interrupting a beam. The audio included conch shell playing by Darren Robert Terama Ward.
4 of 7 13/03/2018 1:44 PM ian clothier . com http://ianclothier.com/kanohi-kitea/index.html
This project involved blinking data from a very old rosemary bush in the maara (garden) at Parihaka, and having motion activated audio play on entrance and exit of the maara. The LEDs were located in an
art work that was at the peak of the gable to the garden. Andrew Hornblow and Deon Roodt were collaborators. I am very grateful for the support of Maata Wharehoka and Ruakere Hond for this work. And to Howie Harris and Charissa Warea, two of the team of gardeners I got to work with most on the project.
Kanohi Kitea got it's name from Charissa. She wrote: "Ok I’ve been doing some investigations and the face piece that we/you are going to LED light belonged to my sister in law, Ngaahina Hohaia.
It was carved by her then partner Michael Marsden the youngest son of the late historian Maori Marsden. So cool there is a connection to me. Ngaahina has advised me to proceed on this cool collaborative project with her support. Kapai.
I like your concept of how you want to light the face. Think it should have a name though. So have thought of Kanohi Kitea which has a double meaning. One is a face that sees with eyes and also can mean a face that is seen often (which can be used for those who turn up to work a lot are faces known). This could give meaning to the future of the maara that it cannot feed the people without being worked by faces of the community."
5 of 7 13/03/2018 1:44 PM i a n c l o t h i e r . c o m http://ianclothier.com/kauri-flow/index.html
WORLD TREE ENSEMBLE : KAURI FLOW
This Kauri is along the path to the McCahon residency cottage in Titrangi. The cable and connector are part of the sensor apparatus, measuring nutrient flow in the tree. The data then goes up to the project website, controlling audio. This tree is quite sad to see, as it's upper branches are withering away.
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These are the saplings in Te Uru Waitakere. The tree voltage data, combined with that from the deseased tree at the McCahon house, controls the audio heard through the speakers.As can be seen above, one probe goes in to the ground and one into the trunk of the sapling.
4 of 8 13/03/2018 1:45 PM i a n c l o t h i e r . c o m http://ianclothier.com/kauri-flow/index.html
As well as nutrient flow voltage data, we are also taking light and temperature readings. Above is an image of the data we are receiving - the top image is the McCahon House kauri, while the bottom image is from the saplings. Data lines A, B and C are voltage readings; you can see from the difference in the profile of the data, that the flow is significantly restricted in the McCahon House kauri, where the voltage has only a small range.
5 of 8 13/03/2018 1:45 PM i a n c l o t h i e r . c o m http://ianclothier.com/kauri-flow/index.html
This project connects via the internet a diseased Kauri tree at the McCahon house in Titirangi, with two Kauri saplings
in Te Uru Waitakere gallery. The live voltage readings from the trees determine which of 80 audio files are played on the project website. Kauri are natives and giants of the forest. The most well known is called Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest.
Kauri or podacarp die back disease is sweeping across stands of native forest in Aoterao New Zealand. The cause is unknown but it is cleaer that the disease is spread by humans. In a poetic conservationist turn, in kauri forests in the north of New Zealand, humans have to wipe their feet before entering and on leaving, areas where there are stands of kauri. We have had to adapt by wiping our feet in the bush, as if we were entering a carefully preserved homestead.
Kauri play a role in the Aotearoa New Zealand psyche, mainly on account of their huge girth and sheer scale in the forest. There was also and early industry of kauri gum harvesting, and widespread use as a building timber, including for ship masts. Ancient swamp kauri is a prized material for bowls and furniture.
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The kauri at the Colin McCahon house were painted by the artist known as the greatest painter of the 20th century in New Zealand. Some of his earlier kauri works involved a dialogue with Cezanne.
The project in orientated the fact that all things are interconnected - for here we have trees connected to the internet, and a further connection is made from the trees to audio artists from three cultures - Māori, Dineh/Navajo, and Nunavut Inuit. I'm very thankful to Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru CNZM, Kura Puke, Darren Robert Terama Ward, Andrew Thomas and Stacey Aglok MacDonald for therir contribution of audio. I also want to acknowledge Andrew Hornblow, who makes custom data sensors, and Adrian Soundy and Julian Priest who authored the web interface and functionality.
7 of 8 13/03/2018 1:45 PM Sharing the Waiwhakaiho http://waiwhakaiho.intercreate.org/
Sharing the Waiwhakaiho
The Waiwhakaiho River at Tupare. Photo by Tom Phillips.
Sharing the Waiwhakaiho is a project initiated by Massey University with partnership from Intercreate.org, NIWA and Taranaki Regional Council. The project stretched across both ter-rain and the human landscape, integrating the following components.
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Tīahoaho: bearing light on the Waiw’akai’o by Kura Puke and Stu Foster.
oro awa waha wai by Julieanna Preston.
River Resonations by Trudy Lane.
The River Speaks by Ian Clothier, Andrew Hornblow and Nina Czegledy with contributions from Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, Kura Puke, Stacey Aglok MacDonald, Andrew Thomas, Darren Ward and Jo Tito.
Sharing the Waiwhakaiho documentary directed by Anand Rose of Green Cow.
The volcanic history of Taranaki.
The statistical probability of an eruption of Mt Taranaki – more likely than you might think
The seismic network around the mountain to detect dangerous events – the potnetial for eruption is taken seriously by the District Council and oil industry.
The Waiwhakaiho and lahars– what would happen if one occurred?
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Interview with Wayne Peters, local farmer
An interview with Craig Knowles, who farms next to Taranaki/Egmont National Park.
An interview with Alistair and Amanda.
Heni George and Myree – intergenerational interview.
An interview with Keith Rowlands.
White water kyakinginterview with Mark Garner.
Local historian and writer– Ron Mells.
The heritage of bridges at Te Rewa Rewa – the current one is much loved by locals.
Taranaki – hydro power pioneer– the Waiwhakaiho was the source of early hydro electricity.
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A brief history of water in science and art.
How water is made.
The paleovalley – the changing river mouth.
The cultural significance of red ochre.
Underwater video and audio of the Waiwhakaiho.
The Living Lab concept encourages researchers from multiple academic disciplines to collabo-rate with a community to create a deeper understanding and appreciation of a natural entity or physical space from many perspectives – Jane Richardson
This is the project website for Sharing the Waiwhakaiho – Taranaki Living Lab. The project is led by Massey University’s Department of People, Environment and Planning in partnership with NIWA, Taranaki Regional Council, Intercreate, Te Matahiapo and Jock McQueenie.
A defining entity for three iwi and associated hapu, the Waiwhakaiho River is one of more than 300 waterways flowing from Mount Taranaki and one of the region’s largest rivers, with high cultural, aesthetic, recreational, ecological and economic value to the people and iwi of Taranaki.
The Waiwhakaiho Catchment includes part of Egmont National Park, three marae sites, ar-eas of intensive agricultural landuse, and urban and recreational sites.
Social scientists will collect and record diverse experiences, memories and images of the Waiwhakaiho. These will be displayed on social media and converted into digital artwork to communicate the river’s rich stories, meanings and value to the community.
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WAI, WATER, AQUA, TO'
Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, pictured above in a still from the Sharmila Samant video about water, is a highly respected Māori Kaumatua (elder) from Aotearoa New Zealand and provided the core concept and ideological underpinning for Wai.
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Audio files made by Navajo/Dineh musician Andrew Thomas
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The second project component was Pou Hihiri (the womb of the universe), seen in detail above.
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A still from Jo Tuito's video of Wai.
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Sink by Julian Priest
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Twe Reo (Maori language) words emerge from the landscape of Taranaki in the animation by Cmielewski and Starrs
Wai means water or flow in Māori, is aqua in Spanish and To' in Navajo. Te Hunga Wai Tapu (the group of people for whom water is sacred) consisted of: Ian Clothier (curator), Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, Te Urutahi Waikerepuru, Jo Tito, Craig Macdonald, Julian Priest, Sharmila Samant, Leon Cmielewski, Josephine Starrs, Andrew Hornblow, Darren Robert Terama Ward, Johnson Dennison, Andrew Thomas, Dugal McKinnon, Sophie Jerram and Gordon Bronitsky. Aerial imagery courtesy of Land Information New Zealand.
There were five components to the Wai project. Te Iarere (communication across vast distances) involves data from a tree in Opunake, New Zealand Aotearoa. Tree voltage, temperature and light were measured. The live data readings control audio played in the exhibition space. Ian Clothier created Te Iarere. Andrew Hornblow made the custom data sensors. Julian Priest and Adrian Soundy authored the web
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interface (for a previous project The Park Speaks). Darren Robert Terama Ward is a Maori musician who plays self made traditional instruments and Andrew Thomas is a Navajo musician specialising in the flute. Ward and Thomas created the audio files controlled by the data readings.
Pou Hihiri is encapsulated in vinyl graphics, contains woven LED’s and has an audio component. Created by Te Urutahi Waikerepuru, Craig Macdonald made the Pou graphics, Julian Priest and Tom Greenbaum custom built the electronics, with audio by Dugal McKinnon and Sophie Jerram. The Pou Hihiri tells a story of the potential of the universe to exist in many possible states, emphasising the universe as a womb of creation.
Video is the third component. Indian video artist Sharmila Samant exhibited The Wasteland, an exploration of water in Aotearoa New Zealand. Jo Tito, a contemporary Maori artist with strong interests in science made two videos of Wai (see still frame above), which play in between The Wasteland and Ruamoko. Ruamoko is made by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences in New Zealand Aotearoa, and explores both Maori and Western scientific views of earthquakes and volcanoes, the result of of flow phenomena in the Earth.
Julian Priest contributed Sink, a model of anthropogenic ocean acidification. Sink is a conceptual work, a kind of thought experiment which would actually work if started up. Carbon dioxide exhaust gasses from a model airplane engine are piped into a tank containing a shell in fluid. Carbonic acid would be formed, increasing acidity, which over time would dissolve the scallop shell. This forms a kind of poetic statement of the degradation of natural resources as a result of human activity. Given our input to the atmosphere of carbon dioxide gases, there is a sense in which Priest's experiment has already begun.
The fifth component is an animation and audio work by Leon Cmielewski and Josephine Starrs. Projected onto the floor, the words of Te Huirangi Waikerepuru - Puwai Rangi Papa - appear to grow out of the mountain landscape of his home – Taranaki Maunga (Mount Taranaki). Papa refers to Papatuanuku, associated with
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Earth Mother and also 'to stand and turn' - revolving Earth in the words of Dr Waikerepuru.
List of works
Te Iarere (communication across vast distances) 2012 Puka Tree, data sensors, internet, audio. Ian Clothier, Andrew Hornblow, Darren Robert Terama Ward, Andrew Thomas. Internet interface by Julian Priest and Adrian Soundy.
Pou Hihiri (the womb of the universe) 2012 Vinyl graphics, LED and audio. Te Urutahi Waikerepuru, Craig Macdonald, Julian Priest, Tom Greenbaum, Dugal McKinnon and Sophie Jerram.
The Wasteland 2012 Video. Sharmila Samant.
Wai I and II 2012 Video. Jo Tito.
Ruamoko 2012 Video. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Aotearoa New Zealand.
Sink 2012 Shell, aeroplane motor, brine, fuel, tubes and pipes. Julian Priest
Puwai Rangi Papa 2012 Audiovisual animation. Leon Cmielewski and Josephine Starrs
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