Emma Morgan: Aural Hysteric | Kate Boocock: Onward! | 19 May - 13 June

click to enlarge images

The Blue Oyster is pleased to present Aural Hysteric by Melbourne based artist Emma Morgan and Onward! by Wellington based artist Kate Boocock. The exhibitions will open on Tuesday 19 May at 5:30pm and will run until Saturday 13 June.

Aural Hysteric uses the strained relations between members of the artist's extended family as a starting point to examine the boring melodrama of family feuds, the deep persistent ties we have to where we come from and the camera’s alluring yet empty promise to show us where that place of origin may be. From an archive of interviews with relatives, Morgan has produced highly subjective, provocative and cynical accounts of familial history and relationships. These videos intermingle the conventions of documentary filmmaking, sociological research and DIY psychotherapy to examine the verity of any historical account and the individual’s ability to truly differentiate themselves from their family or their past.

Onward! is a sculptural vision for the future of Dunedin made from recycled and found materials. Drawing on historical and potential urban development plans, as well as scientific environmental predictions for landscape shifts due to coastal erosion, rising sea levels or earthquakes; Boocock will construct a tableau of Dunedin as it may look in the future. Construction materials will be sourced from around central Dunedin and an abstract future city will be assembled over the first few days of the exhibition.

In conjuntion with Onward! the Blue Oyster will also be running the first in a series of educational workshops. Students will be invited to construct their own future city sculptures, based on the concepts and methods used by Boocock. Workshops will be run on Tues 9 and Thurs 11 June from 12:30pm. Participation is free and available to school groups from any year. Bookings are essential - email education@blueoyster.org.nz to reserve a time for your class.