its like now

'its like now' was an installation of 50 portraits (150 oil on board paintings and an animated painting), presenting an incomplete portrait of the Christchurch arts community. The aim was to warmly acknowledge the tireless, often faceless workers who make up this recovering city's creative arts community in a self-selecting, non-hierarchical, and entirely democratic collective portrait.

An invitation to submit a 30-second video or photo €'selfie' was sent out to artists, writers, curators, museum directors, gallerists and gallery workers, both paid and volunteer. The selfies ranged from the conceptual to the serious and playful, and provided engaging raw material for the work. Everyone who responded was represented.