“Restless Manoeuvers,” a live performance by Julieanna Preston, formed a durational relationship between architecture, literature, color, and the human body. The event critically examined the political and cultural state of being Pākehā in Aotearoa, specifically within the context of the Adam Art Gallery in Wellington, a part of the colonial establishment of Queen Victoria’s University. The gallery, built atop a stairwell tracing the path of a former mountain stream, provided a unique acoustic environment for the performance.

A basket filled with recent Bridget Williams Books publications, each delving into different aspects of the cultural and political climate, awaited at the doorway, alongside large swatches of colored fabric. These materials served as interpretative tools in Preston’s performance. Through her actions, she sought to challenge and deconstruct colonial arrogance, using the books as guides and the fabric as a dynamic color field, both painterly and sculptural in nature.

Preston’s performance was marked by improvisations, influenced by the texts’ content, their resonance within the gallery space, and their impact on her subconscious. Her movements and interactions with the materials addressed her personal reflections on whiteness and privilege, creating a stark contrast with the gallery’s architecture. Her ample migrant body became a symbol of her ongoing journey to confront and work through her inherent privileges.

This event was part of PAWA Opening Night

View Opening Night Event Page

Photography by Robyn Jordaan