In the latest in a series of collaborative projects, Auckland-based artists William Hsu and Nick Spratt extend their working relationship to the shared spaces and resources found at Te Tuhi. After a lengthy period of observation, historical research and discussion, the pair will present a number of events and performances aimed at bringing visibility to the various identities and often unseen systems that ground Te Tuhi’s multiple functions and facilities. As the fruition of an ongoing dialogue with Te Tuhi staff and patrons, the variety of responses from the artists will reflect the diversity found within the centre’s internal mechanisms as well as extended networks.
With Part One of the project; the Te Tuhi Project Wall site will become the temporary auditorium storage room. As one of Te Tuhi’s most active areas, the equipment usually stored behind the auditorium is also some of the centre’s most frequently utilised. Transplanted from this hidden storage space to the highly visible space in front of the Project Wall, an integral shared resource of Te Tuhi will effectively be inverted. In full view to all Te Tuhi patrons, the Project Wall will act as a real-time indicator of the movement of these resources to and from the auditorium and across different areas of the Centre. As the various user groups access tables, chairs, plinths and lecterns while bringing added activity to the foyer space, they will also provide a visualisation of Te Tuhi’s continuous community activity and the diverse demographic that make-up the extended Te Tuhi network.
In upcoming events, Hsu and Spratt will extend their engagement with Te Tuhi and present works that have been developed alongside specific community groups. These will take the form of live performances by the artists, temporary gardens and musical responses to Centre’s architecture.