Tom Arbuckle from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, Te Kura Waihanga—School of Architecture has received Highly Commended at the 2024 Student Design Awards for his project 'Artistic Activism!'.
Judges citation
Through provocative shapes and forms in a carnival of colours, Artistic Activism! puts art in your face, drawing attention to the cause. This playfully refreshing approach agitates for art as essential to public wellbeing.
Three speculative design responses culminate with the third gathering concepts from the two previous propositions. This subtle blurring and building results in a proposal to take back a neglected site near Te Papa, returning it to the public. A remarkable response to a tough site, resolving barriers to accessing the arts by bringing it to the people.
Architecture is used as a canvas for art and vice versa. Designed for an urban setting, Artistic Activism! could successfully be applied to a rural setting.
Project description
Art, architecture and activism have historically intersected. In a time of political and economic uncertainty, and the ever-decreasing accessibility of the arts, this project blurs the boundaries of art, architecture and activism to advocate for Aotearoa’s arts.
Artistic Activism! establishes itself through a non-linear, iterative, design-led method and is developed through three speculative responses: an installation, a pop-up intervention, and an arts centre. Each project increases in scale and acts as an activist, agitating for art as essential, politically important and joyful.
