TLS Virtual Gathering 2020: Erica Duthie & Struan Ashby

Encounters with Temporary Public Art Labyrinths

Presenters: Erica Duthie & Struan Ashby (New Zealand)

Artists Erica and Struan discuss their temporary hybrid ‘art-labyrinths’ and their unique potential as an invitation to ‘walk in community’ as part of public spaces and events. Unusual materials and methods including tape drawing, stenciling and painting will be demonstrated. We speak of our role as ‘kaitiaki’ (Maori for active hosts and custodians) who accompany our labyrinth installations. Hear the backstory of a recent socially distanced labyrinth created for our national museum to celebrate their reopening amidst the lifting of the Covid19 lockdown in New Zealand.

Erica Duthie and Struan Ashby are an international public art couple who specialize in developing ephemeral art and labyrinths as part of festivals, exhibitions and public events. They also facilitate socially engaged art projects as part of community residencies and run workshops as part of their community practice.

Their projects are characteristically novel and quirky in concept and in their use of unexpected and up-cycled materials. Their earliest work as forerunners of the now burgeoning field of Tape Art developed their skills as improv drawing performers and socially engaged art practitioners. They enjoy creating unexpected art experiences amidst public spaces that invite people to step figuratively into imaginary worlds, and literally into their activated walking art labyrinths. As artists who have a couple of decades of experience making and facilitating temporary public, Erica and Struan’s evolving labyrinth projects feature an open social engagement process in their creation and appreciation.

Virtual Gathering of The Labyrinth Society, September 25-26, 2020 via Zoom

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