'Ripple Effect' - Susie Baker - 8 Nov. 2019-1 Feb. 2020

'Adelphi' - Susie Baker

Susie Baker Artist Talk - Friday 6th December, 4.30pm
- free admission

Kaikoura artist Susie Baker's exhibition 'Ripple Effect' will show in room 1 of Photospace Gallery from Friday 8th November 2019 to Saturday 1st February, 2020.

Susie Baker, originally from Scotland, has been based in Kaikoura for 13 years.  She is a graduate of Glasgow School of Art, Fine Art Photography department, where she adopted a selection of alternative and experimental printing techniques. Working in the darkroom, Susie manipulates large black and white images by brushing on chemicals to achieve unique processing effects. 

Recent work for the exhibition 'Ripple Effect' at Photospace Gallery in Wellington has been made using medium-format roll-film, fibre based black and white paper or watercolour paper, and often a drop of sunshine (for Cyanotypes). These exhibition images have been made during a time of change for Kaikoura, reulting from the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake, manifesting in images that speak emotionally as well as physically. Often the work features structures during stages of destruction or renovation. Hand-printed black & white images show shadows of the past or tell a story of the future.

The art deco Mayfair Cinema designed by Wilford Melville Lawry was badly damaged in the 2016 earthquake and must be rebuilt. Great care has been taken to save the facade as the rest of the building is demolished in preparation to extend the building to a new plan. The part-demolition has been playfully recorded in the aptly named artwork 'Coming Soon', with the 'Coming Soon' text printed using old film trailer reels. 

Susie Baker has also given a nod to the past by printing the new Mayfair plans using the Cyanotype process. These ‘Blue Prints’ are beautifully detailed architectural drawings, printed in a traditional way but represent an exciting step forward for the town. Two traditional Kiwi pubs, both recently demolished, each tell a different story whilst the digger attacks.

"We all have an impact on the people and places we encounter, and these effects can be emotional, physical, or spiritual. Likewise, places, objects and events mark us, leaving an impression that can last for generations or just for a fleeting moment."
 
Other works in the exhibition include Cyanotypes of unearthed objects, Cyanotypes immortalised in epoxy resin. These items were uncovered by evacuation work or came to light due to the uplift of the coastline, thrown-away objects of our past becoming items to be treasured.
 
"The artworks in this exhibition are centred around a feeling of change; using inspiration from our past to make positive steps forward. "
- Susie Baker, 2019

'Ripple Effect' is Susie Baker's first exhibition at Photospace Gallery.

Holiday hours: the gallery is closed from Tuesday 24th December to Saturday 4th January. Open shorter hours Mon. 6th to Sat. 11th January. Back to regular hours from Mon. 13th Jan. 2020.

Below: 'Ripple Effect' exhibition catalogue with pricing and technical information about each artwork.

'Blue Print' (cyanotype) - Susie Baker

'Bottles' (cyanotype) - Susie Baker

'Coming Soon' - Susie Baker

'Mayfair' - Susie Baker

'Mayfair Demolition' - Susie Baker

'Wharf' - Susie Baker