Fashion and editorial spreads may seem a long way removed from remote Northland communities, but for photographer Tim White they are both intriguing subjects. This week White is set to release a new book, exhibition and documentary examining the lives of Northern townships and those who inhabit them.
White spent four years visiting the area, photographing kaumatua, organic farmers, children and new and old landowners. The book features more than 70 photographs exploring people's relationship with the land, spirituality and family, and White says his underlying message is for people to "constantly question the media, talk to people yourself". White, who has also worked for publications like The Face, British Vogue, Elle, Black Magazine and the Times, has been based in Auckland since moving back from Sydney and London in 2004.
The True North exhibition opens at the Letham Gallery on May 15 and runs until June 5. The book, with an introduction by Harpers Bazaar Australia editor Jamie Huckbody, will be available from the gallery as well as Parsons in Auckland and www.timwhitephoto.com.
10 favourite things
1 My Crown Graphic camera
It may lack the precision of the German cameras (it's American) but for over 50 years the Crown's largely remained unchanged. I shot my book on two of them, not because I wanted the 5x4s quality but it's a great ice-breaker - if people see you carrying it they'll often come up to you and talk. Unlike most 5x4s, I can hand hold them which makes it reasonably flexible too for a large format camera - and they're really cheap on Ebay! And like a Bolex 16mm camera, they're just a nice object.
2 Jenny Holzer's art
It is brilliant, I used to go to the Tate just to read the slogans over and over. "Protect me from what I want". I want to own one of her LED boards one day.
3 Antique chair/ladder/ironing board all in one
Again simple functional design, I'm a big fan of Shaker furniture which I know this is not but their idea of "it's a gift to be simple" really appeals to me.
4 Old dentist chair
I use this as a computer chair. OK, I know it's pink but it's actually really comfortable, and design wise it has multiple movements and adjustments. It's extremely functional but it weighs a tonne so it does not move far. When I lived in London, my scooter mechanic did a couple up into computer chairs with attached stands; one day I'd like to do it up.
5 Starn Twins
This work is such a great fusion of photography, collage and duality. Their framing is astonishing too, which is something, as a photographer, I'd like to experiment more with as an integrated part of the work.
6 The Matchless vintage motorbike
The Guggenheim held an exhibition of vintage motorbikes: at their best they are "art" - even Burt Monro's Indian stripped down appeals in a very Duchamp-ian "ready-made" way. It's a bit like riding an old bed, and mechanically I'm useless but luckily I live very close to a great motorbike mechanic, which helps. It makes a lot of noise too.
7 Danny Lyon
He has long been a major inspiration to me as a photographer and I was fortunate enough to meet him online; he's been out to NZ a couple of times now, and while it can be dangerous to meet one of your heroes, he's really great, a bit of a loose-unit but at 67 he's still fighting the good fight politically through his work and a real laugh. He gave me the print after his first visit here and I love it.
8 Robert Frank
Described as "the last person to see something original through a camera". His 1959 book The Americans is still my bible!
9 Mike Davison
He did the art direction on my book, I was really thrilled when he agreed to do it as I love his art. He lived in New York for a long time and I love his graffiti stencil aesthetic; so much stencil work done now is just copies of Banksy and others, but Mike's work is not. To me it's an amazing fusion of typography, Maori and Pakeha culture and art. I've had a preview of some new work and it is very different but still amazing, it's always great to work with people that are constantly creating.
10 Tate Modern
It's just a mind-blowing space, but also the way the art is displayed is so non-linear - "Let's put his Warhol next to a Turner or a Yoko Ono or something and think about why..." I loved going down to the Tate when I lived in London. It's one of the few things I really miss about the city.
In the frame
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