Asia After Five — NZ Artists Explore Japan's Creative Landscape

Japan has been our most popular artist destination over the past 12 months. Are you curious about the vibrant art scene that has captivated so many? Join us for an evening with four talented New Zealand artists who have recently explored Japan's creative landscapes thanks to grants from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Hear firsthand about their unique experiences, inspirations, and the ways in which Japan has influenced their work. Through brief presentations and a Q&A session, you'll gain valuable insights and discover the diverse artistic perspectives that emerge from this fascinating culture. 

Our Asia After Five events are interactive. You will have a chance to ask questions, network with others and learn from informed experts on Asia.

This event is free to attend, but please RSVP for catering purposes.

Event details: 
Date/time: Wednesday, 30 October from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.
Venue: Auckland Festival of Photography Shared, Level 17, Spaces, PwC Commercial Bay Tower, 15 Custom St West, Auckland CBD 1010 (please note: access lifts from Spectra Cafe foyer, Sky Lobby, street entrance on corner Albert/Custom St West).

Meet our Artists:

1. Daniel Belton
Daniel Belton is a New Zealand-based artist and filmmaker whose work blends dance, film, and visual arts to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences. As artistic director of Good Company Arts, he has explored themes of identity, culture, and the human condition, particularly focusing on Indigenous perspectives and the intersection of technology and society. Daniel's work has been presented internationally and is recognised for its emotional depth, intellectual rigor, and innovative use of media. He is celebrated as one of New Zealand's leading artists, with numerous awards and residencies. Daniel is a Te Tumu Toi Arts Foundation of New Zealand Arts Laureate, acknowledged within Asia New Zealand Foundation's Arts Practitioner Alumni and a current PhD Candidate at the School of Art Whiti o Rehua College of Creative Arts Toi Rauwhārangi, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa.

2. Georgie Hill

Georgie Hill is an artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. She has been the recipient of several awards and residencies including the Olivia Spencer Bower Foundation Art Award, the C Art Trust Award, and the Youkobo Art Space residency Tokyo. Her work is held in the collections of the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, the University of Auckland and The Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Key exhibitions include: Feint at City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi 2014 and the Beijing Contemporary Art Fair 2019.

3. Sybille Schlumbom
In her practice, Sybille Schlumbom examines encounters with sites through traces of human experience. She explores how to connect and respond with places through print, informed by her material encounters and print-based installation work. Her process has developed from her engagement with mokuhanga (Japanese water-based woodblock printing) and its direct translation of the matrix (e.g. the grain of the wooden plate) and printing techniques that express flow and transition. Recently, she developed an interest in rust monoprints in interaction with handmade Japanese kozo and gampi paper. Her attendance at the International Mokuhanga Conference in Echizen, Japan, earlier this year, supported by Asia New Zealand Foundation funding, opened up a new world of opportunities to collaborate with local paper mills.

4. Theo Macdonald
Theo Macdonald uses documentary photography, filmmaking, and Gothic iconography to record and critique sites of militarism, state power, personal memory, and national identity. He has exhibited in New Zealand and overseas, in solo and group exhibitions. In 2023, he completed a Master of Visual Arts at Auckland’s AUT University, where he investigated approaches to imaging military imperialism in Aotearoa, focusing on the local presence of American military contractor Rocket Lab. He is currently the Deputy Editor of North & South magazine.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with artists, learn about their creative journeys and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich artistic heritage of Japan.