HS8’s second group exhibition at Pah Homestead, (Auckland 8 November 2024 – 16 February 2025, opening Th 8 Nov).
MATERIALISE marks the conclusion of a two-year journey for this remarkable group of HANDSHAKE 8 artists, at The Arts House Trust, Pah Homestead, Auckland.
Over this period, participants have explored and honed their practices through online and in-person masterclasses, lecture series in art history & theory, and collaboration with mentors, including this year’s video presentation masterclass led by Catalan maker Estela Saez-Vilanova.
During this time, they have worked closely together, sharing invaluable experiences and cultivating a shared vision of leadership, all while striving to achieve their individual artistic goals.
The resulting exhibition showcases diverse material and conceptual approaches, embodying Handshake’s ethos of exploration and innovation.
The exhibition process is used as a learning tool for their future exhibitions, focusing on essential curation skills, communication, work support/furniture, exhibition design, artist statements, labels, and other professional gallery ethics. Their first at Depot ArtSpace played a crucial role in this educational process, as well as the collaboration with Pah Homestead’s curator: Nicholas Butler.
MORE about HS8 second exhibition
HS8 exhibition images: Materialise
HS8’s first group exhibition was at Depot Artspace, Devonport (Auckland 4 Nov to 21 Dec 2023, opening Sat 4 Nov).
This marked the mid-project experience, featuring works that were developed throughout a year-long exploration process. The artists’ interests, masterclasses, and coaching sessions all played a vital role in shaping the edited installations of each HS8 artist.
The exhibition process is used as a learning tool for their future exhibitions, focusing on essential curation skills, communication, work support/furniture, exhibition design, artist statements, labels, and other professional gallery ethics. The Depot ArtSpace played a crucial role in this educational process.
MORE about HS8 first exhibition
HS8 exhibition images: Proof of Concept
Exhibiting art in different formats and situations is a rule-bound process that requires practice, feedback, and introduction. Creating artwork for exhibitions, participating in its planning, design, setup, installation, lighting, labels, artist statement, promotion, and delivering artist talks are all integral parts of the exhibition learning experience.
Preparing for an exhibition creates pressure and awareness among HS8 artists about the significance of planning, focus, and direction in their development. It requires good editing, a keen creative eye, resilience, and time management to articulate a homogeneous group from the process and finished works.
HS8 BLOG posts:
Northward bound
I have had such a spectacular beginning to the year. There have been adventuring through Northland over a 10 day period. It was a time full of exploring, hiking and, when I could, collecting. On the trip I took almost 2000 images of everything and anything that caught...
Starting the Year off on a Musical Note
Cor blimey what a roller coaster this one has been. Song writing: These words come to mind… Cathartic Intense Exposing Vulnerable Enriching Expelling An owning of fears An evolving discussion I’ve finally had the guts to add music to my practice. It such a big part...
An Art Practice is a Calling, not a Job
Like most Handshake8 participants, after our exhibition in November 2023, I was wiped out and needed a break from the constant problem solving and long hours of the preceding year…it was great for a week, but by the following Sunday I was bored, cranky, and in need of...
Reflections of 2023
The Proof of Concept exhibition marks the halfway point of my 2 year Handshake 8 journey. It has been such an incredible, yet busy year. I have loved every moment of the last 12 months being a part of the program. Through the Handshake Project I have found an...
HS8 E-ON sessions
E presentation workshop ON-E by Estela Saez Vilanova (CAT-ES) (subject to funding)
A series of Zoom workshops during April – October 2024 about alternative EXHIBTION options with the intention to prepare Handshake 8 artists for an online exhibition submission
Exhibitions
HS8’s second group exhibition at Pah Homestead, (Auckland 8 November 2024 – 16 February 2025, opening Th 8 Nov).
MATERIALISE marks the conclusion of a two-year journey for this remarkable group of HANDSHAKE 8 artists, at The Arts House Trust, Pah Homestead, Auckland.
Over this period, participants have explored and honed their practices through online and in-person masterclasses, lecture series in art history & theory, and collaboration with mentors, including this year’s video presentation masterclass led by Catalan maker Estela Saez-Vilanova.
During this time, they have worked closely together, sharing invaluable experiences and cultivating a shared vision of leadership, all while striving to achieve their individual artistic goals.
The resulting exhibition showcases diverse material and conceptual approaches, embodying Handshake’s ethos of exploration and innovation.
The exhibition process is used as a learning tool for their future exhibitions, focusing on essential curation skills, communication, work support/furniture, exhibition design, artist statements, labels, and other professional gallery ethics. Their first at Depot ArtSpace played a crucial role in this educational process, as well as the collaboration with Pah Homestead’s curator: Nicholas Butler.
MORE about HS8 second exhibition
HS8 exhibition images: Materialise
HS8 EXHIBITION 1
S8’s first group exhibition was at Depot Artspace, Devonport (Auckland 4 Nov to 21 Dec 2023, opening Sat 4 Nov).
This marked the mid-project experience, featuring works that were developed throughout a year-long exploration process. The artists’ interests, masterclasses, and coaching sessions all played a vital role in shaping the edited installations of each HS8 artist.
The exhibition process is used as a learning tool for their future exhibitions, focusing on essential curation skills, communication, work support/furniture, exhibition design, artist statements, labels, and other professional gallery ethics. The Depot ArtSpace played a crucial role in this educational process.
MORE about HS8 first exhibition
HS8 exhibition images: Proof of Concept
HS8’s second and end-of-project exhibition MATERIALISE: 8 Nov 2024 – 16 Feb 2025 will take place at Pah Homestead, Auckland, opening on Thursday, 7 November 2024, from 6-8 pm.
This exhibition synthesizes all the research, feedback, experiments and ideas into a cohesive body of work. A special feedback hui afterwards determines how the processes and outcomes connect (subject to funding).
Exhibiting art in different formats and situations is a rule-bound process that requires practice, feedback, and introduction. The process of creating artwork for exhibitions, participating in its planning, design, setup, installation, lighting, labels, artist statement, promotion, and delivering artist talks are all integral parts of the exhibition learning experience.
Preparing for an exhibition creates pressure and awareness among HS8 artists about the significance of planning, focus, and direction in their development. It requires good editing, a keen creative eye, resilience, and time management to articulate a homogeneous group from the process and finished works.
Proof
Putting it out there - talking about it. What to exhibit in an exhibition that marks the halfway point in this two year handshake project? In a public process show how resolved should that process be? Does it need to be jewellery, to be wearable? So many questions...
The summit
One of the first things that struck me when I moved to Tamaki Makaurau Auckland were the over 50 volcanic cores that are sprinkled throughout the city. I have used these volcanic cores as guideposts to help me figure out where I am. If I got lost I could drive towards...
A texture library
On my explorations I recorded things that I came across. In particular things that caught my eye, for one reason or another. A lot of this process was done by taking hundreds and hundreds of photos. I also collected bits and bobs. Yet, sometimes you can’t or shouldn’t...
Proof of Concept
We are halfway through our Handshake8 journey and the exhibition 'Proof of Concept' was a chance for us to share what we have all been working on for the last 10 months. The exhibition at Depot Artspace opened on Saturday 4 November and continues until 20 December...
Mapping Shells
When I first moved to Aotearoa New Zealand, I had a flurry of international visitors. There was a need for a non-digital or wifi dependent mud map of the area. I began to play with an idea of a map drawn onto an object from the area. Living on the bay, my first...
HS8 E-ON sessions
E presentation workshop ON-E by: Estela Saez Vilanova (CAT-ES) (subject to funding)
A series of Zoom workshops during April – October 2024 about alternative EXHIBTION options with the intention to prepare Handshake 8 artists for their online exhibition submission


