Hidden in Plain Sight

Kia ora,

I am a visual artist based in Ōtepoti and I am currently an MFA candidate via Dunedin School of Art. My research project, “Hidden in Plain Sight” centers on mental health, and body autonomy issues connected to; individuals who identify as female within NZ society. The project will engage members of the public to help make the art through participatory activities. As a way to navigate this complex territory the project will split into various working phases. Several key Dunedin community organisations are consulting on this project specifically, relating to delivery of the public programming.

*The project has also completed an ethics process via OPREC [Otago Polytechnic Research Ethics Committee] and received ethics approval in July 2021.

Phase one - Billboard installations

This first phase of the project involved deploying a series of billboard installations into targeted social spaces within Ōtepoti city limits [over August and September 2021]. The geographical locations included; recreational parks, University campus grounds, and public reserves - this was in association with Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin City Council, University of Otago, and Dunedin School of Art.

The billboards feature wallpaper designs consisting of mass produced objects associated with mental health, and body autonomy arranged in familiar patterns. The installations also feature a grouping of smaller signs which reinterprets language taken from info-signs found in public spaces as a protest action. A QR code will redirect individuals to an information page, where they are able to track the progression of the project.

The project would like to thank Dunedin local business Speedprint for sponsoring phase one of the project, Peter Marshall for the Billboards construction, and to the project’s installation team.

Preliminary findings

website metrics have indicated over 850 individuals scanned in with their own devices, spending 2.5mins on the project's info page, 20% returning multiple times over the period of 8th August - 1 September, 2021.

Phase Two - Workshops

This phase of the overall project will include a series of free public workshops, which invite members of the public to make signs [as a protest action] about their own experiences with mental health, and body autonomy. Workshop attendees will also make wallpaper treatments in response to a series of stories collected from the project’s online focus group [165 women who are contributing through their responses]. The project's goal is to run between 6 - 10 workshops so that more individuals have the opportunity to contribute.

The artworks [from the workshops] will contribute to a large - scale art installation, which will be displayed in a found space within Dunedin’s CBD. This is in partnership with Dunedin Dream Brokerage. The display will operate like a pop-up exhibition that will also include a closing showcase featuring a live performance from Ōtepoti based musicians in response to the art works. Both the pop-up exhibition, and closing showcase will be open to the public, and free to attend. Currently, the workshops, pop-up exhibition, and closing showcase are scheduled for October 2021.

How you can help - The Project Needs You!

As a student based project every penny counts so donations and crowdfunding will help go towards the following expenses for Phase Two of the project;

* Workshop materials * Installation materials [to help make the display apparatus + hanging materials] * Venue costs [includes power etc] * Performance fee for musicians * Printing costs [including promo + exhibition info] * Online advertising

Finally, time is such an important commodity in this current climate so I really appreciate you reading through this info in consideration for the project.

Thank you in advance!

You can also follow the project via social media links + I have set up an online info page/resource about the project so individuals who are interested can track its progress

To track the project go to - www.maggiecovell.com

click on the info tab "Art Projects"