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Filipino artist undertook residency at Manukau Institute of Technology
DF Issue No. 30 Sept 05
Australian-based Filipino artist Alwin
Reamillo recently completed his work at
the Manukau School of Visual Arts as an
artist in residence.
Alwin, who stayed at the Institute for eight weeks in May and June, has shown widely throughout the world and participated in major international exhibitions including the Venice Biennale, the Havana Biennale, and ARX3/ Artists’ Regional Exchange in Perth.
Working in a wide range of media, his practice is characterised by an engagement with the community and with social issues.
While at the Institute Alwin will continued the CARnage Project, which he began in Augusta, Western Australia, in January 2005.
Alwin Reamillo’s first ‘whale car’ made using recycled materials. A second ‘whale Filipino artist undertook residency at Manukau Institute of Technology car’ will be made in Manukau.
In this project, Alwin constructed his first ‘whale car’; a vehicle that looks like a whale made out of recycled materials collected from the local area. He just completed his second ‘whale car’ in Manukau, and following his Manukau Institute of Technology residency Alwin travels to Fukuoka, Japan later this year where he intends to build a third ‘whale car’.
By building his ‘whale cars’ in various international locations he aims to establish a conceptual link between the different venues.
According to Manukau School of Visual Arts artist in residence project co-ordinator Paul Cullen this project mapped a migration route for the ‘whale car’, which reflected contemporary global mobility, as well as the migratory nature of the whale.
“The ‘Manukau whale car’ was driven to various local venues, forming micro links within the Manukau and greater Auckland regions.”
Alwin began his project in response to the tragic stranding of more than 100 whales in Augusta some years previously. He was also influenced by the New Zealand film Whale Rider.
“Alwin saw this project as being about carnage per se, of whales on the foreshore; drivers on the road, etcetera. As such, it is a broad statement about tragedy, and the frailty of life,” Paul says.
The Manukau School of Visual Arts artist in residence project is funded by Manukau Institute of Technology and Creative New Zealand.
For further information about the artist in residency programme, contact Paul Cullen at Manukau School of Visual Arts on (09) 968 8000 or email: paul.cullen@manukau.ac.nz.
See also Whale rider with an ecological point.