The Aranui Project

The Aranui Project evolved from a second year documentary project with students from the School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury, and from a discussion with Sister Pauline O,Reagan, author and long time resident of Aranui. Sister O’Reagan proposed University of Canterbury students and staff speak with Aranui High School and suggested some of the possibilities that might extend from a collaboration between communities.

Aranui principal, Graham Plumber immediately supported the idea and introduced us to Sue Carswell and Steve Coates of the English Department. They arranged introductions and looked enthusiastically at the potential for creative involvement with their own students.

Aranui students kindly introduced School of Fine Arts students to their home place, making it possible for the photographers to understand something of the relationship between a particular place and the role it might play in the lives of those who live there.

At the completion of the Aranui project, work was selected for inclusion in the Place in Time archive. Subsequently, in April, 2001, this work was exhibited and then donated to Aranui High School to be used within the school's curriculum.

Tim J. Veling

Tim J. Veling is a photographer and senior lecturer in photography at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, New Zealand. He is the director and primary administrator of the Place in Time archive.

Tim gained his MFA from the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 2006, for which the project Reb Bus Diary formed his research thesis. Red Bus Diary was later published by Place in Time in conjunction with the University of Canterbury and Hazard Press, and exhibited as part of Platform Arts Festival, Christchurch, 2006.

Since then, Tim has undertaken a number of long-term projects that unpick aspects of the psychological, cultural and socio-political landscape. Broadly, his work is an ongoing investigation into concepts of home, belonging, place and time made visible through a subtle blending of the genres of fine art and documentary photography. His main modes of output are exhibitions and artist books.

Tim is currently engaged in a series of long-term projects relating to the aftermath of Christchurch’s devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. He has exhibited and worked nationally and internationally and his prints are held in private and public collections.