What's in it for me?
Photographs by Megan Campbell Newby
Photospace Gallery, 1st-26th November, 2013

The solo photographic exhibition What’s in it for me? is the culmination of several years of research, investigation and collaboration with three young males living on the streets of Wellington.

What’s in it for me? attempts to document aspects of the way these men live, while simultaneously exploring the difficulties surrounding how subjects and subjectivity are traditionally framed in documentary practices. Working around margins of visibility and disrupting power ideologies draws attention to social hegemony and engages a dialogue beyond and outside of this.

The exhibition consists of three distinct but related sets of images that each addresses a particular aspect of photographic documentary processes. Throughout this project, what was crucial was the relationship to my subjects and the ethical framework that surrounds photographing. I have an ongoing engagement with my subjects and collaborators and I hope to have produced a body of work that challenges the traditional process of documentary photography.

Gallery talk with Erna Stachl and Dick Whyte - 9th November at 1pm, at Photospace Gallery.

TV3 Nightline interview with Blair & Megan, screened 8th November, 10.55pm
Community Health, photo by Megan Campbell Newby, 'what's in it for me?' documentary photography project people living on the streets of Wellington, New Zealand
Photo: Megan Campbell Newby
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Photo: DR
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Photo: DR
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Link to TV3 Nightline story of 8th Nov

Megan Campbell Newby - artist bio

Born Auckland 1981, lives and works in Wellington. Megan is an emergent photographic-based practitioner with a strong interest in contemporary documentary practice. Simultaneous to study she has engaged in numerous street art projects and has established relationships with many local street artists.

Years of early morning hospitality shifts have helped to fund studies and sparked an interest in local social engagement, labour forces, policies, politics and power. Drawing from her location, the framings of everyday life, local social histories and politically current issues have informed the development of her practice.
  • 2012-current - BDes, majoring in photography. Massey University, Wellington
  • 2009-2011 - BCT - Bachelor Of Creative Technologies, Wellington Institute Of Technologies
  • 2008 - BA, Photography and Digital Imaging/Designing with Photography, Victoria University, Wellington       
  • 2000 - BA, Sociology of Art/Gender Studies, Otago University, Dunedin
  • 1999 - BFA, Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland.
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Photo: Megan Campbell Newby

Exhibitions

  • November 2013 - What's in it for me?, Photospace Gallery, Wellington (solo exhibition)
  • April 2013 - In Development, The Engine Room Gallery, Massey University Wellington, curated By Jenifer Gillam (group show)
  • May 2012 - I Hear Motion Performance Series, The Engine Room Gallery, Massey University Wellington, curated by David Cross (solo performance work)
  •   2011- Leftbank Live art Graffiti collective work
  • 2011 - Light Sentence, Weltec end of year exhibition
  • 2010 - Tell Me The Truth About Love, Weltec end of year exhibition.
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The Bread Line – Performance Work - Duration: 2 Hours