Superpartner is pleased to present an exhibition of photographic and text works by artist and filmmaker Jim Speers and filmmaker Tu Rapana Neill in collaboration with New Public’s, Amanda Wright.
Based on numerous interviews and images taken during the production of Tu Rapana Neill’s and Jim Speers’ 2021 documentary, Ayukawa: The Weight of a Life, the exhibition delves into the complex and poignant topic of whaling in Japan.
A public screening of Ayukawa: The Weight of a Life (2021) will coincide with the exhibition on Saturday 27th July at Silky Otter Cinemas Queenstown at 7pm, followed by a Q&A with director Jim Speers. Tickets are available through the gallery's website.
Ayukawa, a town once thriving on the whaling industry, now faces decline, its traditions challenged by cultural changes and international regulations. This sensitive photographic enquiry offers a compelling series of windows onto these changes, providing a deeper understanding of Ayukawa’s very human narrative. Extrapolating from the documentary, Speers and Wright seek to reveal how the often overlooked and unremarkable aspects of everyday life, when given space and time, can open onto deeper, emotionally and politically complex human narratives. Their works delve into the unspoken and untranslatable experiences of others, bringing viewers closer to distant realities and echoing the unvoiced truths and conflicting values that often lie at the heart of our shared existence.
Jim Speers is an artist and filmmaker known for his documentary films for cinema and art contexts. His feature film Ayukawa: The Weight of a Life, premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2021 and was included in the Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival. Previous film projects with the collective Field Recordings were shown at the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo in Turin, the Rockbund Museum in Shanghai, and Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery in Auckland. His art practice spans installation, light sculpture, printmaking, and digital production. Speers’ artwork is included in New Zealand’s significant public collections. Speers is also an Associate Professor at University of Auckland, researching documentary ethics and community engagement.
Tu Rapana Neill is a celebrated Māori filmmaker, editor, writer, and director from the Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Ueoneone iwi. He is known for impactful projects like Ayukawa: The Weight of a Life, Ahikāroa, Te NGz, and Nā Wai I Teka?. With over 14 years of experience in the UK film and TV industry, he now leads Kura Productions in New Zealand. Tu's work champions Māori storytelling, aiming to expand te reo Māori and te ao Māori through his diverse and engaging film works. His dedication to meaningful content and his unique perspective as a Māori filmmaker has earned him a respected place in the industry, both locally and internationally.
Amanda Wright is an artist and designer based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, who leads the design and publishing project New Public. This initiative collaborates with artists and cultural institutions to explore contemporary visual and material culture. Key projects include On the Last Afternoon: Disrupted Ecologies in the Work of Joyce Campbell (2020), Thus the Blast Carried It, into the World (2021), and There is Nothing to Do, There is Nowhere to Go (2023). Upcoming projects are Chronicles with artist Lisa Crowley and an archive book project with artist Richard Malloy. Amanda's work is characterised by thoughtful design and meaningful collaborations.
