Things That Shape Us
PG Artists Tim Veling and Janneth Gil in Things That Shape Us
currently on at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
Things That Shape Us includes artists who use documentary practices to encourage collective action. Working in the aftermath of traumatic events, they ask us to reconsider how we think of ourselves and demand a more democratic society. In addition to the ongoing challenges of racism, inequality, climate change and Indigenous politics, in the past decade the people of Ōtautahi have faced both the devastating 2010/2011 earthquakes and more recent mosque attacks. How can we gather in the long shadow of these events and use the impact and memory of loss to work towards a better democracy?
Seven months since the attack, Muhubo now keeps to herself a lot more. She witnessed the atrocity of March 15th, 2019, hearing the gunshots, seeing the dead bodies, and observing the suffering of the dying. Despite social service support, she was not able to discuss the day of the attacks for several months.