The Conversations is a time-based project by the artists Ursula Christel, Sue Hill, and Karleen Winters. This Collective has worked together since 2003, presenting four public exhibitions curated over seven years, as well as some tangential collaborations.
The catalyst for The Conversations project - and the inspiration for the exhibitions - comes from the widely discursive interactions between these three artists during regular meetings over a good cup of coffee.
How will the conversation continue?
Shifting from formal public exhibitions to a more insular exploration of specific local environments and 'place', the Collective remains active, albeit in a more private space. They continue to pursue this as a project 'in perpetuity' (having collected numerous photographic records and videos of these interactions) - with no definitive objective in mind other than investigating the topics that come up organically over time, and exploring these in their own personal creative outputs.
The four public exhibitions covered below, featured works made by the three individual artists, plus a collaborative work created by the Collective. The Gallery features images from the following:
2010 Open Ended Conversation, the Tui room, Collaboration exhibition, Estuary Art Centre, Orewa, Auckland. 4th collective exhibition.
A social-history commentary installation by the collective - Sue, Ursula, Karleen
Images - selected photographs by Ursula Christel and the Collaboration installation
2007 More than Words, NorthArt, Northcote, Auckland. 3rd collective exhibition
Images - selected artworks by Ursula Christel and the Collaboration contribution
2004 The Discussion Continues…, PumpHouse, Takapuna, Auckland. 2nd collective exhibition
Images - selected artworks by Ursula Christel and the Collaboration contribution
2003 VISUAL DISCUSSION, the Old Masonic Hall, Warkworth. 1st collective exhibition
Images - selected artworks by Ursula Christel and the Collaboration contribution