Massey University’s innovative and inspiring Exposure exhibition for graduating students at the College of Creative Arts opens on Friday.
Featuring colourful, practical and creative exhibits from students studying programmes at the School of Art Whiti o Rehua, the School of Design Nga Pae Mahutonga and the School of Music and Creative Media Production Te Rewa o Puanga, the exhibition on the Wellington campus has in past years been the launching pad for many careers beyond university.
College Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Tony Parker says the college is both a hot house and an accelerator: a short-cut to, and a setting for, skills acquisition and knowledge generation in the creative and performing arts.
In 2018 the Exposure Exhibition showcases the work of graduates including emerging artists, designers, photographers, musicians, filmmakers, performers and media makers. Exhibits include a backpack that helps hobby beekeepers to recollect swarms essential for bee reproduction, a portable heat-pack for women suffering from endometriosis, predator-proof nest boxes for birds, a children’s Māori pronunciation phrasebook, a dress that imitates a melting glacier, a video game about cats that rule the world and custom-built music interface.
This year the first graduates from the Bachelor of Commercial Music will also be presenting their latest recordings and projects related to performance and event management.
Professor Parker says over the 133 years of the existence of the college, which can trace its origins from various forerunner institutions back to the 1880s, it has fostered the talent of generations of students.
“Many of our graduates have gone on to make a difference through art, design, music, media and technology; they have defined New Zealand culture, made a valuable contribution to the New Zealand and global economy, helped make our work more productive, our play more enjoyable, our listening sweeter, our environment more sustainable and our lives more fulfilling.
“The 21st century will be defined by creativity. As graduates of programmes which focus on creativity and its application to the challenges of our age, our students will be well equipped for the future.”
During the week, final-year students from the School of Music and Creative Media Production will present film, game technology and music at separate events. The work of the graduating fashion design programme will be paraded at the annual fashion show on the campus over the weekend of Friday-Saturday November 9-10.
“From our home in Aotearoa New Zealand we aim to grow creative thinkers, makers and innovator who challenge the status quo and whose practice and understanding makes a positive difference for people and for the future of the planet,” Professor Parker says.
“At the College we ask then not to wonder ‘what do you want to be,’ but ‘what problems do you want to solve,’ or ‘what issue do you want to explore?’ he says.
“The responses to these questions are here for all to see in the 2018 Exposure Exhibition. It provides a positive affirmation of not only the future of these graduates, but also for the future of the country, with such talent abounding.”
Exposure is launched with an opening function on Friday at 6pm and continues daily from November 3-17 in the creative arts precinct located around Block 12, Te Ara Hihiko, on the Wellington campus.