A Photographic Archive of Otablu
In a rapidly evolving world, communities like my Ōtāblu, (Otāhuhu) face pressures of gentrification, loss of identity and culture. This creative project researches how documentary photography can be a tool to explore how a community can preserve their identity in the face of challenges, to overcome adversity. My practice explores ways that images might create an archive for our community to celebrate, and to inform future generations about the history of our community. This research project is deeply rooted in memory, community, and the preservation of the ‘Golden Times’ in Ōtāblu. Through my lens, I create a photographic archive that honors the characters, culture, and spirit of my upbringing. My practice extends beyond documenting faces or places. I aim to evoke the essence of a time from 2005-2015 when the streets were active with connection, identity, and belonging. By putting My People, My Village and My Community in the limelight, I present an unfiltered view of the diversity that shaped the person I am today. At the core of it all, it is just me and a camera telling stories, recording history, and amplifying voices of my locals here in this small part of South Auckland.
