Vaughan Robertson's 40 years of diving on the South Wairarapa coast was the inspiration for his sister Denise's exhibition 'just one breath', opening at Aratoi next week.
Vaughan has worked as a commercial paua diver for many years, a job that involves 'free diving' without the use of breathing apparatus. Award-winning artist Denise, who also grew up in Wairarapa, dreamed of them travelling together to the performance art symposium and international free diving competition, called Deep Anatomy and Vertical Blue respectively, in Long Island, The Bahamas, a series organized by New Zealanders Sam and William Trubridge.
Unfortunately, Vaughan was not able to go due to last minute commitments but having unlocked a treasure trove of stories from the deep for his captivated sister, Denise launched a Boosted campaign, determined to get there on her own. Some months later she found herself standing on an idyllic white sandy beach surrounded by artists, writers and diving aficionados from all over the world - gazing into Dean's Blue Hole, the world's largest at 202m (663 ft).
She describes the free divers she met and captured on film as incredible athletes. Most of them have quite a long relaxation routine that they do before each dive. Their movements are incredibly graceful. There is no fighting or struggle, as adrenaline is the enemy of free diving.
Spectators could get very close to the action and Batchelor donned a mask and snorkel to record the preparations and descents on her camera and Go Pro. But given that the divers are descending to around 90m, much of the dive is unseen - even by the safety divers who descend to 25m and 30m. While the divers are competing internationally and representing their countries, they are also competing against their own records, and they celebrate each other's accomplishments, says Batchelor.
She was particularly interested in narcosis, a sometimes euphoric change in consciousness experienced by divers, and which she witnessed in a number when they surfaced. She says the trip reminded her of her time crewing on tall ships in the South Pacific in her 20s and swimming mid ocean. “It’s not a documentary about free diving, it’s a response to my experience of the whole trip, and trying to recreate that feeling for viewers.”
She will give a talk with Sam Trubridge at Aratoi on 12 March, 2pm. She is also showing 'Chrysaora Colorata', a video work looking at the movement of jellyfish at the Performance Arcade on the waterfront side of Te Papa from 2-6 March. just one breath, Aratoi, 12 March - 22 May 2016. www.denisebatchelor.com.
WHAT'S ON dates:
WHAT'S ON:
Aratoi Exhibitions
'just one breath' Aratoi, 12 March - 22 May, Featherston Camp 1916-2016: The Record of a Remarkable Achievement, until 31 July; Wairarapa Whakaputa Mohio - Settling the Land, until 31 December.
EVENTS:
Farewell Zealandia: Forgotten Kiwi Songs of WW1, until 25 April, ANZAC Hall, Featherston. Open 10am-3pm daily.
New Zealand Festival Writers Week: Simon Winchester & The Pacific Ocean
Aratoi, 9 March 2016 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm.
'just one breath' Artist talk by Denise Batchelor with Sam Trubridge.
Aratoi, Saturday 12 March, 2pm.
Caption: Left: Denise Batchelor zooms in on the site of the Vertical Blue international free diving competition. Right: Divers float above Dean’s Blue Hole. Photos: Denise Batchelor.