originally scheduled for:
March 29, 2020: 8:16am – 8:35pm
postponed due to COVID-19
Please see the video of Phase 1 work on the PROCESS page.
Here is an Artist Talk Sarah gave at Penn shortly after she got back from Aotearoa in the spring of 2020.
When doing early research for the project, Sunde was struck by the significance of the sunken continent of Zealandia and the rapidity at which pacific islands are facing the effects of global rising water levels. Soon thereafter, she learned about Polynesian navigation and the ingenuity of the first people to arrive in Aotearoa. The strength and resilience of the Māori people is awe-inspiring. From an international perspective, Aotearoa is leading the way in conversations around conservation, respect for waters, and the more-than-human world. Partners at AUT and Te Uru Gallery suggested the Manukau Harbour as a site that is under-represented in the greater Tāmaki Makaurau area.
The solo exhibition took place at:
Te Uru Wāitakere Contemporary Gallery, Titirangi
February 22 – July 5, 2020
Each durational video artwork was shown as a two-channel video installation, looped, over the course of a month:
36.5 / North Sea
36.5 / Bay of Bengal
36.5 / Bay of All Saints
36.5 / Bodo Inlet
More info on the Te Uru Gallery website and about the planned performance here.
Sunde arrived in Aotearoa on March 3, 2020 and spent three wonderful weeks searching for the specific spot to stand, meeting people, building a team and developing the project on the ground with wonderful collaborators. Meanwhile COVID-19 was spreading around the world and on March 25, just four days before the scheduled performance, the country went into lockdown. Sunde returned home to New York City immediately.
The borders have been closed ever since.
On May 2, 2022, the borders will open again after 2+ years. If all goes well, Sunde will travel back to Aotearoa on May 3 and the performance will take place on May 16.
36.5 / Te Manukanukatanga ō Hoturoa is dedicated to Tavalea Fanguna.
in collaboration with Te Uru Wāitakere Contemporary Gallery and AUT School of Art & Design
Artistic collaborators: Amiria Puia-Taylor, Nettie Norman, Kingi Peterson, and HIWA
Local Producers: Ariane Craig-Smith, Diane Blomfield
Cinematographers: Mairi Gunn, Amarbir Singh, Ian Powell
Livestream and Technical Direction: Fergus Milner
Photographer: Raymond Sagapolutele
Production support: Paola King-Borrero, Jeremy Leatinu’u, Robert George, Paul Janman, Lea Schlatter, EcoFest West and Auckland Digital Stage
Partner and Whenua support: Janine Randerson, Andrew Clifford, Chloe Geoghegan, Nolwenn Lacire, Valance Smith, Matua Jeff Takua, Robin Taua-Gordan
Special thanks to: Vodephone, the Blomfield Family, Peter Kostandelos, Joe Capozzi, Shana Chandra, Sarah Webster, the Guggenheim Foundation, MAP Fund, Maggie Kaplan/Invoking the Pause, 36.5 Advisory Team and 36.5 Individual Contributors
36.5 series music collaborator: Joshua Dumas