Contact details +6449793532
David Cook BSc, MFA
Senior Lecturer / Kaitiaki Line Manager
School of ArtLake of Coal: The Disappearance of a Mining Township (book published by Craig Potton Publishing/Ramp Press, 2006)
Lake of Coal is a sole-authored book that traces the social and environmental impact of energy developments on Rotowaro, the largest opencast mining operation in New Zealand’s north island. The publication brings together 20 years of research, weaving a multi-vocal text of photographs, artefacts, drawings and oral histories that account for the forced displacement of 400 resident-workers from their homes. Lake of Coal was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.
River/Road: Journeys Through Ecology (published by Rim Books, 2011)
River/Road is a book that takes an intimate look at factors shaping the ecology of a 20 km stretch of river and road. David Cook’s photographic narrative is accompanied by Wiremu Puke’s text, setting up a bi-cultural dialogue that emphasises the active venture of ‘reading’ the landscape. The third author, graphic designer Jonty Valentine, navigates the reader through a multi-layered account of space and time. The project also resulted in an exhibition and online interactive output.
Freeville (exhibition commissioned by TEZA, Christchurch, 2013)
David Cook and Tim J. Veling facilitated a participatory media project in which 60 pupils from Freeville School in Christchurch were asked, “How do you see the future of your community?” In light of recent earthquake impacts and impending school closure pupils responded using photography, montage and words. Their stories, combined with David and Tim’s photographs, came together as a billboard-sized public artwork in The Transitional Economic Zone of Aotearoa (TEZA) in Christchurch. The Freeville project is also archived in the University of Canterbury’s Place in Time: The Christchurch Documentary Project.
Survey Hamilton (exhibition at Waikato Museum, 2014)
In David 2011 established the Survey Hamilton media collective, a group charged with the task of exploring factors shaping the growing city. The most recent output from the project was the Survey Hamilton exhibition at the Waikato Museum (2014). The show featured screen-based interactive digital media, sound installations, screen-based photographs and still photographs. David's work dealt with contemporary shopping malls, urban reforestation and night life.
Meet Me in the Square (book and exhibition, 2014-2015)
After a violent earthquake struck Christchurch city in 2011, David Cook returned to his hometown and found the central city in ruins. Determined to rebuild his version of the city, he unearthed his extensive archive of photographs and diaries from the 1980s. Meet Me in the Square (published by Christchurch Art Gallery) is a radical revision of this archive, designed in the style of Japanese Provoke publications, immersing the reader in the inhabited environment. In 2015 the Christchurch Art Gallery also stage an exhibition of the project.
David Cook is a photographer and lecturer based at Ƶ’s College of Creative Arts. David's practice-based research deals with themes of contested space, community and ecology. Projects havecollaborative and participatory
Professional
Contact details
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Location: T26h
Campus: Wellington
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science - University of Canterbury (1981)
- Master of Fine Arts - Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (1999)
Prizes and Awards
- MAPDA - joint winner of Exhibition Catalogue Award (Major) for Meet Me in the Square: Christchurch 1983-1987, published by Christchurch Art Gallery, 2014. Design Director:Jonty Valentine, Author: David Cook. - MAPDA - Museums Australia Multimedia & Publication Design Awards (2017)
- Designers Institute of New Zealand, Best Design Awards 2015 - Bronze Award in the Editorial and Books section for Meet Me in the Square: Christchurch 1983-1987, published by Christchurch Art Gallery, 2014. Design Director:Jonty Valentine, Contributor: David Cook, Client: Christchurch Art Gallery. - Designers Institute of New Zealand (2015)
Research Expertise
Research Interests
Documentary photography, ethnography, collaborative and participatory media, contested space, photobook, Christchurch earthquakes.
Thematics
21st Century Citizenship
Area of Expertise
Field of research codes
Lens-based Practice (190503):
Studies In Creative Arts And Writing (190000):
Visual Arts and Crafts (190500)
Keywords
Documentary photography, ethnography, collaborative and participatory media, contested space, photobook, Christchurch earthquakes.
Research Outputs
Journal
[Journal article]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Journal article]Authored by: Cook, D.
Book
Creative Work
[Exhibition]Authored by: Brown, A., Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Artwork]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Artwork]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.Contributed to by: Cook, D.
[Artwork]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.Contributed to by: Cook, D.
[Artwork]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cook, D.
Conference
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Conference]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cook, D.
Other
[Internet publication]Contributed to by: Cook, D.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cook, D.
[Internet publication]Contributed to by: Cook, D.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Cook, D.
Consultancy and Languages
Consultancy
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February 2014 to present
- Ƶ
Lecturer
Languages
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English
Last used: today
Spoken ability: Excellent
Written ability: Excellent
Teaching and Supervision
Teaching Statement
Teaching on the undergraduate BDes(Hons) programme.
Media and Links
Media
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20 Feb 2022 - Radio
The golden age of state houses
Interview of David Cook by Lyn Freeman, for the 'Standing Room Only' arts feature on Radio New Zealand National. Talking about David Cook's 'Jellicoe & Bledisloe' exhibition and publication. -
14 Dec 2014 - Radio
Radio New Zealand National - interview
David Cook interviewed by Lynn Freeman for the 'Standing Room Only' arts programme aired on Radio New Zealand National. Discussed Meet Me in the Square publication and exhibition. 7 minutes 49 seconds -
05 Feb 2015 - Radio
Newstalk ZB interview
Photographer David Cook talks to Newstalk ZB's Chris Lynch about his exhibition Meet me in the Square at the Christchurch Art Gallery in Tuam St till the 24th May 2015
Other Links
- - portfolio of David Cook's research outputs