29 Oct 2024
An artist of Niuean and Samoan descent, Christopher Ulutupu is embarking on a transformative journey through his Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies residency at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury.
The residency is a partnership under Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy. Kawika Aipa, Manager pacific Arts, Enterprise says Creative New Zealand is proud to partner with the University of Canterbury to deliver the residency.
“Artists provide a lens through which we can explore and understand the complexities of our world. The residency demonstrates our commitment to celebrating the unique stories that define New Zealand and the Pacific region by giving Pacific artists time and space to nurture their voice,” Kawika says.
“We thank the many talented Pacific artists that have held this residency previously and congratulate Christopher Ulutupu as the 2024 Resident artist.”
Based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) and Whakatū (Nelson), Christopher’s work delves into the Pacific diaspora in Aotearoa, challenging stereotypes and exploring the impact of the Western gaze on indigenous cultures. His upcoming project will use video and photography to respond to tourist spots in Ōtautahi, aiming to create new narratives and understand the environmental changes driven by capitalism.
Christopher’s exploration of the Pacific diaspora began by researching postcards of Samoa created in the early 1900s for European audiences, which fuelled a range of tourist imaginaries based on stereotypes (including ‘dusky maiden’, ‘muscular warrior’, and others).
“Colonisation has made it harder for indigenous people to imagine their lives outside of these tourist imaginaries, narratives further perpetuated by the media,” he says.
Christopher’s practice aims “to subvert the camera lens and understand the ramifications for marginalised communities when the Westerner gaze is the only lens through which we view our own culture.”
“I am hoping to produce a large-scaled video and photography project which responds to tourist hotspots in Ōtautahi and spend time responding to various texts about landscapes and indigeneity, creating new imaginaries. Representation of land and environments is important for understanding the processes which give way to the rising sea. Although my practice does not directly address climate change, I believe it’s interrelated,” Ulutupu says.
“The camera is a useful tool for capturing the changes that capitalism has impacted the environment. I am interested to have further conversations with the local Pacific academics about climate change and arts practice.”
He says the Creative New Zealand Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies Artist Residency will allow him to access different facilities and resources the University has to offer and provides an opportunity to engage with UC academics and students.
More about the artist and his art practice here: Christopher Ulutupu Contemporary Artist
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