Papakura through the artist's lens

An exhibition that captures the Papakura District will open at the Papakura Art Gallery on Friday 22 October 2010.

Papakura District by Moonlight by Wayne Wilson-Wong operates as an interpretive visual document and celebrates some of Papakura’s distinctiveness features.

On 1 November 2010, Papakura District will become part of the planned Auckland Super City. Gallery Manager Emma Hintz says the transition will mark a significant milestone in the district’s history.

“Most people expect the identity of Papakura to be transformed forever. This exhibition provides a snap shot in time of what the district looks like in 2010. It could also provide a reference point for the new Auckland Council, enabling us to map changes under the new structure.”

Mrs Hintz says when Wilson-Wong drives around Papakura, “it reminds him of similar country towns in New Zealand, with a railway line running right through the heart of it, recreational parks, old cemeteries and beautifully restored historic buildings that reflect its pioneering past”.

The artist’s digital moonlight process follows in the tradition of contemporary documentary photography, but his photographs are hard to define.

“Some images are romantic and full of New Zealand iconography, some have a painterly quality about them, and others resemble a scene from a spooky movie. Wilson-Wong certainly reveals a surreal world of light and colour that we don’t ordinarily see during the day.”

An artist’s talk providing insight behind the images and a discussion of his techniques used to capture these stunning photographs will be held at the Papakura Art Gallery on Wednesday 27 October from 11.00 am.

The exhibition opens on Thursday 21 October 5.00-6.30 pm and runs until Saturday 20 November.