As we approach the second anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch
earthquake, for many, the recovery journey continues.
A new exhibition at the National Library of New Zealand will give
Wellingtonians the opportunity to reflect on the stories of those Cantabrians
who lived through the earthquake, and discover the universal lessons learned
from the aftermath, which are relevant to all New Zealanders.
The exhibition, by Christchurch-based photographer and writer Guy
Frederick, is entitled ‘The Space Between Words’. The series of photographs and narratives
showcase a range of deeply personal and powerful stories told by 14 survivors
of the Christchurch earthquakes.
After the February 2011 earthquake
- and with a 2011 NZ Mental Health Media Grant - Guy went out into the
community and documented a cross-section of recovery stories.
The finished project shares the personal experiences of these
individuals and their varied responses to the earthquakes. It features
traditional portraits of each storyteller sitting in the same chair, but the
background differs according to his or her story.
One woman sits amongst the rubble that used to be her back garden;
another is seated inside her damaged house. The juxtaposition of the
traditional poses with the unruly and deeply personal backgrounds lends the
exhibition its intensity.
Guy’s exhibition is part of the library’s Big Data exhibition, a
six-month public programme.
“Big Data is all about change,” says Guy. “Big Data explores, in part,
the way that change is often not evolutionary but punctuated by a cataclysmic
event, be it physical, social, technological - and that's exactly the type of change Cantabrians have had to deal
with.”
"One of the primary goals of my project was
to share positive mental health messages. Post-traumatic stress is
generally associated with a one off event so, as the aftershocks have
continued, so too have the compounding nature of their impact on mental
distress.”
Guy hopes viewers will come away acknowledging that it is okay to feel
overwhelmed sometimes, and when required to allow the time and space to heal
without judgement. One of the most important messages is to ask for help when
you need it – perhaps one of the hardest things for many New Zealanders to do.
Guy says the Turnbull Room is a great space for his exhibition. “It is a
very contemplative space and there is a lot to reflect on in these stories. The
stories shared by the individuals are not controversial or sensational. They
are about the unspoken stuff - their thoughts and feelings. The room suits the
subject material perfectly,” he says.
‘The Space Between Words’ exhibition is located on the ground floor of
the Molesworth Street National Library, and is open to the public from 8.30am
to 5.00pm, entry is free and the exhibition runs until April 30, 2013.
Guy’s project was funded by a 2011 New Zealand Mental Health Media Grant
(www.mediagrants.org.nz).
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