Virginia King

Kauri: Spirit and Illusion

Length: 4:00

In my short film of the installation, Kauri: Spirit and Illusion, I have drawn on my previous body of work about the loss of Kauri. Styx (Sticks,) and a series of work that I began as an Artists’ Bookwork in 1994 and exhibited in Canberra the same year. I had made several large artworks including the three metre long floating work Raft.

These works were based on the rafts used during the Kauri Logging industry when the hand felled logs had been flushed from the rivers to the sea, collected and assembled and towed to nearby sawmills.

Lettere da Venezia

Length: 6:5

The assemblage of floating letters, celebrates Venice as the heart of printing in the fifteenth century when the Republic of Venice became the centre of the printing industry in Europe. The assemblage of floating letters alludes to the migration of language. The classical Roman characters are combined with and echo the characters in the Latin quotation PAX TIBI MARCE ENVANGELISTA MEVS, carved on the marble tablet beneath the paw of the Lion of Venice. This performance work was floated in the Canal di Sant’Alvise in June where it was photographed and videoed.

The film was selected to be shown in the NZIFF. It was screened at The City Gallery, Wellington, August 2020 New Zealand Shorts .

Photography: Virginia King - Lucia King Smith, Giovanna D’Albertis.

Locations: Carnareggio / Canale d’ Sant’Alvise & Waiheke Island

Special Assistance: Giovanna D’Albertis Palazzo Bembo, European Cultural Centre Venezia, Italy.

Illuminated Manuscripts: Ceremonial for the use of a Cardinal - Med Ms S285 Breviary - Med. Ms S283 Heritage Collections, Auckland Libraries Courtesy: Georgia Prince - Principle Curator Rare Books.The book of Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Medieval 1868, F. Delamotte C. Lockwood & Co. 7 Stationers’ Hall Court London. Artist’s Collection. Museo Correr, Piazzi San Marco, Venezia.

Additional Photography: Jane Elliott, Julia Stevenson, Francesca King, Sam Hartnett.

Special Effects: Luke King

Original Music: Heartstrings Duo, Natarani & Sasha Witten - Hannah

Editor: EmberVision - Baraka

Director and Producer: Virginia King

THREE DECADES

Length: 4:18

The four minute video covers my practice over the past thirty years, showing the complexity and significance of my work in the Pacific environment and providing context and reference to the work in Venice. Many ephemeral works were filmed in and under the sea, in Antarctica and Hawaii and during other symposia. The works reference marine life and microorganisms, drawing attention to the fragility and vulnerability of our environment. Temporary and site specific commissioned works are included along with vessel forms that have evolved as metaphors for life and survival. The sound track combines evocative music played by three musicians from Aotearoa, playing cello, guitar and flute music, the loop video plays continuously in the exhibition space.

Editing: Baraka. Film and Production: Virginia King

Sound: Includes evocative music played by three musicians from Aotearoa: Heart Strings Duo: Natarani-Cello, Sasha- Guitar and Anu Grace- Flute.

Passage

Length: 9:42

In 1995, I received a grant from Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, to make artwork with a theme of Past Migrations to Aotearoa; the Passage Series. Crucial to the content and intention of the artworks was the selection of suitable locations to document each artwork. The exhibition and video traveled to Public Galleries, including The Dowse, Lower Hutt; the Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North; Hawke's Bay Museum & Art Gallery, Napier and the opening of the Te Puna Christchurch.

Camera: Nikki Baigent. Location: Karekare Beach and Western Springs, Auckland.

Styx (Sticks)

Length: 9:27

Styx (Sticks), draws parallels between the huge loss of New Zealand's ancient Kauri and the five rivers of grief represented in Greek Mythology: The video includes archival footage of the Kauri logging industry, a soundtrack of original music and my three metre sculpture Raft made from Salvaged Kauti. The video is divided into rivers, metaphors representing each stage in the grieving process, Styx, Acheron, Cocytus, Phlegethon and Lethe. 1997

Camera: Nikki Baigent. Location: Coromandel, Raurimu, Karekare Beach and Northland.

Antarctic Heart 

Length: 12:35

The video includes coloured and animated Electron Microscope images layered with Antarctic footage, and 21 suspended sculptures filmed in black light. The soundtrack of original music by fellow recipient Chris Cree Brown is combined with recordings of Weddell seals under McMurdo Sound in 1963 was made using a hydrophone, by physicist Dr. A C Kibblewhite. Included in the opening Exhibition, Christchurch Art Gallery, Te Puna o Waiwhetu.

Location: Filmed in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, Cape Royds and Cape Evans, during Antarctic Artist's Fellowship 1999. Sculpture filmed in black light during performance at Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland.
Edited: Steve Roigard. Camera: Virginia King

Southern Nautilus

Length: 8:50

Recordings of the Nautilus text whispered readings: James Preston, Julia Stevenson, Angela Merrie, Francesca King, Luke King, Mike King, Virginia King.

Editing: Rua Acorn

Turning Stones Time Lapse

Length: 0.11

A short time lapse video of Turning Stones, taken at Cottesloe SxS Perth.

Thanks to Gareth Carr.