LITMUS (Fine Arts)

LITMUS is the Centre for Research in Photography and Fine Art, housed within the School of Fine Arts. Consisting of a number of internationally focused research initiatives, The Engine Room Gallery, and affiliated projects, LITMUS operates as the school's umbrella research entity for innovative research in Photography and Fine Arts.

LITMUS seeks to facilitate opportunities for researchers in the school across a wide-strata of activities from exhibition to symposia and publication. Fundamental to this is international engagement with a dynamic programme of collaborations facilitated through group research endeavours. The recently expanded Engine Room gallery is a major research facility for the exhibition of leading-edge fine art research that connects developments in staff research with the work of international peers.

Within this structure LITMUS currently has two key research groupings: Place focused on photographic practice with specific connection to locale and landscape; and Litmus Research Initiative an internationally recognised research initiative devoted to the study and practice of temporary public art practice. Both clusters work with researchers locally and internationally to develop new practice and scholarship in their respective fields. Currently Place is developing a book and exhibition project entitled Sightseeing which will tour respected venues internationally over 2010/11.

LITMUS recently completed the One Day Sculpture project which consisted of the commissioning of twenty temporary public artworks across New Zealand together with an international symposium and book co-edited by Associate Professor David Cross and LITMUS fellow Claire Doherty.