Fiona Pardington: The pressure of sunlight falling

The pressure of sunlight falling is a powerful series of large format photographs depicting life casts made by medical scientist and phrenologist Dumoutier during one of French explorer Dumont d’Urville’s South Pacific voyages from 1837-1840.

Fiona Pardington (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mamoe, Ngati Waewae, Pakeha) examines the ways in which photography of objects and the proto-photographic medium of casting registers empathy and the presence of former lives.

This exhibition of photographs explores the meanings, histories and functions of nineteenth century life casts, while examining the unique power of photographic portraiture. The images are drawn from museum collections in France.

A photographer of international reputation, Pardington has exhibited widely in Australasia and in France at the Musée du Quai Branly.

The book Fiona Pardington: The Pressure of Sunlight Falling, edited by Kriselle Baker and Elizabeth Rankin, is published by Otago University Press in association with Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and two Rooms Gallery to coincide with the exhibition.

Curated by Govett-brewster Director Rhana Devenport