VSA: New Zealand Photographers Abroad

23 August - 6 October 2002 in the Entire Gallery
New Zealand Photographers Abroad brings together images by eight leading and emerging New Zealand documentary photographers, taken in fourteen countries world-wide. The exhibition provides both a rich and vibrant celebration of global life and culture and an exploration of the challenges facing people living in the developing world through New Zealanders' eyes.

To mark its fortieth year, Wellington-based international development agency Volunteer Services Association (VSA) invited eight documentary photographers to embark on two-week photographic assignments in the countries VSA sends volunteers - Bruce Connew, Glenn Jowitt, Terry O'Connor, Gil Hanly, Nicola Dove, Bryn Evans, David Gurr and Louise Hyatt. VSA recruits skilled New Zealanders to work in developing countries around the world. These volunteers help local communities to achieve their own solutions to problems by sharing their skills, energy and experience.

The images in New Zealand Photographers Abroad have been selected by VSA, City Gallery Wellington and photographer Bruce Foster from the thousands taken in journeys through South Africa, Tanzania, East Timor, Laos, Cambodia, Samoa, Bhutan, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. The resulting exhibition provides a rare glimpse of both the inspiring and disturbing realities that are part of the daily lives of the communities in these countries.

Exhibiting Artists: Bruce Connew, Glenn Jowitt, Terry O'Connor, Gil Hanly, Nicola Dove, Bryn Evans, David Gurr and Louise Hyatt.