Manukau Institute of Technology
Manukau Institute of Technology art students are being taught by some of New Zealand’s leading artists.
MIT moving image subject co-ordinator Lisa Reihana has been recently invited to submit work for the prestigious Sydney
Biennale 2000, while other Manukau School of Visual Arts lecturers have won special grants and had work shown in a range
of exhibitions held around New Zealand.
Lisa is the only New Zealand exhibitor selected for the major Sydney arts festival to be held in May next year.
The talented artist has a major video installation at Te Papa, Native Portraits n.19897 and believes it was this work
which led to her invitation to exhibit at the Sydney Biennale.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to exhibit with some top international artists,” she says, adding that work by
Yoko Ono is included in the festival.
The theme for the festival is Agents of Change and Lisa is currently discussing her display with organisers.
“I think we’ll be including the work of Pacific Sisters, a group of people I work with who incorporate fashion,
storytelling and music, and there will probably be some form of video installation as well.”
Lisa is just one of MIT’s art lecturers who have been acknowledged as top New Zealand artists. Recently two Manukau
School of Visual Arts lecturers won grants, while six lecturers had work accepted for the James Wallace Trust/Visa Gold
Art Awards.
Photography lecturer Ann Shelton won a $10,000 Creative New Zealand art grant and has been focusing her camera on
different Auckland interiors.
Ann is using a vintage 8 x 10 camera to capture unique images of a 1970s apartment and a range of public spaces.
The bulky camera was once common, but now only a handful are used by professional photographers. Ann has borrowed her
camera and is having one built.
“I’ve gone from using a quick snapshot camera to using a camera which requires a lot of time and patience.”
Ann has previously had a Creative New Zealand arts grant to produce her book, Red Eye, a documentary project on urban
Auckland.
Meanwhile, painting, printmaking and drawing lecturer Paul Johnston has won a $4000 research scholarship to complete his
postgraduate study.
Paul is halfway through his master of arts (art and design) and is using the funding for materials for his research on
three-dimensional installation.
The installation draws on Paul’s own experiences of journey and the sense of dislocation and uncertainty which can
accompany travel.
“I’m using architectural features to create an environment that will bring about a sense of uncertainty in the viewer.”
The Manukau School of Visual Arts at MIT offers a range of full and part time programmes including the bachelor of
visual arts degree, one year certificate in visual arts and programmes in photography, jewellery and personal interest
courses.
The school is hosting open days from Monday November 22 to Friday November 26. Students’ work will be on display,
potential students can look at the facilities and lecturers will be available to answer questions.