CONOR CLARKE.

A Warm Welcoming Feeling 

This project was completed during a residency at Waitawa Regional Park, Auckland, New Zealand.

Weeds are ubiquitous, yet both the weed itself and the concept of the word are European introductions to New Zealand – to the land and our people. In pre-European times, an equivalent of the word didn't really exist in te reo Māori.

Gorse is thought to have arrived with early British missionaries during the 1830s for agricultural use as a living fence. It also served nostalgic purposes, its golden flowers and sweet coconut scent added a touch of home to otherwise unfamiliar terrain. As gorse rapidly spread it began to occupy a grey area between valuable gorse and stray gorse, a living, thriving reminder of the success of British colonisation. 

Visible from north-facing slopes within the park is Kāramuramu Island – a rare, red island that hosts one of Auckland's longest-running quarries. The unique red aggregate excavated from this site is recommended for driveways and footpaths, adding a warm welcoming feeling to  your hardscape. Because of the finite nature of this resource, quarrying is now restricted to a large, seawater filled pit in the centre of the island; currently 70 metres below sea level, excavation will continue to a depth of 200 metres before moving to neighbouring Pakihi Island. 

I visited the island on December 6th, 2015. After removing my boots I stepped into the deep blue seawater pit. The water turned red as the earth rose quickly around my ankles.  My resulting black and white photographs of this visit struggle to truly convey sublime experience. The limits of a medium so descriptive and finite won’t allow it.

Silver gelatin fibre based prints, 41 x 51cm, edition of 3 (many of which were printed onsite during the residency)

This project was made possible thanks to the generous support from Auckland Council, Creative New Zealand, Studio La Gonda, Stan Hall, Two Rooms Gallery,  Elam School of Fine Arts and Manukau Institute for Technology.