David Cook BSc, MFA

Lake of Coal: The Disappearance of a Mining Township (book published by Craig Potton Publishing/Ramp Press, 2006)
Lake of Coal is a sole-authored book that traces the social and environmental impact of energy developments on Rotowaro, the largest opencast mining operation in New Zealand’s north island. The publication brings together 20 years of research, weaving a multi-vocal text of photographs, artefacts, drawings and oral histories that account for the forced displacement of 400 resident-workers from their homes. Lake of Coal was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

River/Road: Journeys Through Ecology (published by Rim Books, 2011)
River/Road is a book that takes an intimate look at factors shaping the ecology of a 20 km stretch of river and road. David Cook’s photographic narrative is accompanied by Wiremu Puke’s text, setting up a bi-cultural dialogue that emphasises the active venture of ‘reading’ the landscape. The third author, graphic designer Jonty Valentine, navigates the reader through a multi-layered account of space and time. The project also resulted in an exhibition and online interactive output. 

Freeville (exhibition commissioned by TEZA, Christchurch, 2013)
David Cook and Tim J. Veling facilitated a participatory media project in which 60 pupils from Freeville School in Christchurch were asked, “How do you see the future of your community?” In light of recent earthquake impacts and impending school closure pupils responded using photography, montage and words. Their stories, combined with David and Tim’s photographs, came together as a billboard-sized public artwork in The Transitional Economic Zone of Aotearoa (TEZA) in Christchurch. The Freeville project is also archived in the University of Canterbury’s Place in Time: The Christchurch Documentary Project.

Survey Hamilton (exhibition at Waikato Museum, 2014)
In David 2011 established the Survey Hamilton media collective, a group charged with the task of exploring factors shaping the growing city. The most recent output from the project was the Survey Hamilton exhibition at the Waikato Museum (2014). The show featured screen-based interactive digital media, sound installations, screen-based photographs and still photographs. David's work dealt with contemporary shopping malls, urban reforestation and night life.  

Meet Me in the Square (book and exhibition, 2014-2015)

After a violent earthquake struck Christchurch city in 2011, David Cook returned to his hometown and found the central city in ruins.  Determined to rebuild his version of the city, he unearthed his extensive archive of photographs and diaries from the 1980s.  Meet Me in the Square (published by Christchurch Art Gallery) is a radical revision of this archive, designed in the style of Japanese Provoke publications, immersing the reader in the inhabited environment. In 2015 the Christchurch Art Gallery also stage an exhibition of the project.