Galleries 10 & 11, TheNewDowse
45 Laings Road Lower Hutt |
www.newdowse.org.nz
Kite surfers, cheese rollers, kumara growers and naked cyclists - these individuals and many others are brought together in the fascinating exhibition Champions: New Zealand Winners. This photography show is Jessie Casson’s loving tribute to unsung Kiwi achievers, from Kaikohe to Gore. These champions may not get the attention and adulation doled out to professional sports stars and celebrities (nor the pay packets!), but as Casson says, “everybody has a story, it just needs to be searched for”.
For 14 weeks over summer 2007-08, Jessie, her husband Matt and two year old son Dylan travelled round the country in a 1970 caravan. They drove over 12,000kms, and visited more than 60 towns, to photograph and interview 43 wonderful people for Champions: New Zealand Winners. Most subjects were found through word of mouth or local knowledge. All the people included in the exhibition have won competitions at a high level, often nationally or internationally, sometimes setting world records. These are people with passion and determination.
Jessie used four rolls of film, equating to 48 shots, per subject. Her philosophy is always to work with each person to make the portrait. She tries not to envisage how the photograph will look until she has met and talked to the person. In total 43 champions were found and these are all included in the book that accompanies the exhibition. Jessie selected 25 champions for the touring exhibition.
“The gains for most competitors are not about money or wealth and in a world where consumerism and monetary success have a huge role, I now know that there is a lot to be learnt from the individual champion” Jessie Casson.
Champions: New Zealand Winners the book is published by Random House, and will be available for sale from TheNewDowse reception desk – and from all good book stores.
For more information and images, or to request an interview with Jessie Casson or a local champion, please contact:
Anna Lee T +64 4 560 1477 E anna.lee@huttcity.govt.nz
Michael Steele T +64 4 560 1482 E michael.steele@huttcity.govt.nz