'Building Memory' - Maiken Calkoen

This exhibition comes from a deep connection with Hastings and wider Hawke’s Bay, the memories of growing up here and glimpses of the architectural aspects of the area.  It depicts layers of memory and history mainly through representation of the built environment.

Maiken moved back to Hastings in January 2015, this exhibition marks ten years since she returned to her hometown. Initially she was drawn to documenting the architectural gems and unique characteristics of Hastings using photography and her instagram account.  This grew into a photographic project in 2016 in which she exhibited around 400 photos in the window of the Common Room and did a pechakucha presentation exclaiming the wonders of “stings”.   The reaction from the public and locals was a mixture of the nostalgia for the Hastings of the past, combined with the excitement of its preservation and revitalisation.  Maiken relished the conversations that started from her photos as memories were sparked and stories were told.  

Since then Maiken witnessed how many of the buildings that she had photographed were disappearing, being demolished, or, being renovated, re-branded and re-purposed.   Even her recent photographs were becoming historical records.  

This led to more of a focus on paintings of Hastings which reflect and evoke collective and recent memory and the incremental change that is characteristic of small cities.  Hawkes Bay has its Spanish Mission, Art Deco and specific architectural heritage to trigger memories of specific times and events, but it also shares the universality of the change that most regional cities and all urban environments experience as they way we live our life changes and evolves.  This exhibition aims to evoke memory of the specific places depicted, or, of the inevitable change we all recognise in the places we love and connect with.

Take a look around...

Close