07 Mar 2019
Tautai, in partnership with the Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin School of Art, are proud to announce that Jasmine Togo-Brisby is the successful artist for the 2019 Dunedin School of Art - Artist in Residence.
This triennial artist residency is specifically for visual artists of Pacific heritage and is about celebrating the depth of talent within the Pacific arts community. The resident artist is encouraged to create work that is challenging and diverse. Claudia Jowitt was the last artist to receive this particular residency.
Jasmine Togo-Brisby is a multi-disciplinary artist, currently studying a Master’s of Fine Art at Massey University in Wellington. She has been consistently exhibiting, with recent exhibitions in Auckland, Wellington and Brisbane. She is a fourth generation Australian South Sea Islander with ancestral lineage to the islands of Ambae and Santo of Vanuatu. With a robust process, her research and work examine the historical practice of 'blackbirding' within the Pacific and the legacy and ramifications of this practice on the contemporary and present day.
During the 12 week residency, Jasmine will live on the grounds at the School of Art and while developing her own work, will also deliver presentations to students and staff. She will have full access to the school’s world-class facilities, along with external facilities such as the Hocken Library. Jasmine will have time to research and develop work, culminating in an exhibition at the conclusion of the residency.
While in Dunedin, Jasmine is planning to continue her research about the checkered past of the ex-slaver ship, the Don Juan, which currently lies in Deborah Bay, Port Chalmers. The story of the Spanish slave ship, is more well known in the South Island, than in the North Island.
On a previous visit to the Dunedin Maritime Museum, Jasmine briefly explored the origins of the Don Juan and filmed the contents from the ship, that are held at the Museum. She says the fact that she was able to do that, is mind-blowing.
While on her residency, Jasmine will engage with the museum and re-contextualise elements from the ship. The fact that Jasmine will have the chance to respond to the presence of this ship in Aotearoa, is something that she is still processing. “Our culture started on that ship, that’s profound - being able to see that, is ridiculous”.
Senior Lecturer and the Studio Coordinator for Painting, Graham Fletcher, who is also the Pasifika advisor for the Dunedin School of Art - welcomes the appointment of Jasmine to the residency saying that:
"We really value this partnership with Tautai. We're excited about Jasmine Togo-Brisby starting her artist residency with us. She will bring a unique energy and enthusiasm to the art school that I think the students and wider community will respond to. She'll definitely be a good addition to the Dunedin art scene".
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