An image of 'Terrific Tinsel', an 'All Rightie' wrapped in Christmas decorations. 'Terrific Tinsel' is one of the 'Festive Besties, a series of characters created by All Right? for their 2015 Christmas e-cards. All Right? used the image as a Facebook cover photo on 17 December 2015 at 10:10am with the caption, "Who's your Terrific Tinsel? Hint: It'll be someone who brings sparkle to any situation and isn't afraid to stand out! Thank them and your other 2015 Besties today with our fab FREE tiles: allright.org.nz/festive".
An image of 'Jazzy Jandal': an 'All Rightie' riding a giant jandal like a surfboard. 'Jazzy Jandal' is one of the 'Festive Besties', a series of characters created by All Right? for their 2015 Christmas e-cards. All Right? used the image as a Facebook cover photo on 19 December 2015 at 5:41pm with the caption, "Who's your Jazzy Jandal? Hint: It'll be someone who is #1 for laid-back fun! Thank them and your other 2015 Besties today with our fab FREE tiles: allright.org.nz/festive".
An image of 'Energetic Elf': an 'All Rightie' with elf ears carrying a stack of presents. 'Energetic Elf' is one of the 'Festive Besties', a series of characters created by All Right? for their 2015 Christmas e-cards. All Right? used the image as a cover photo on 20 December 2015 at 5:22pm, with the caption, "Who's your Energetic Elf? Hint: It'll be someone who puts in the hard graft, often behind the scenes! Thank them and your other 2015 Besties today with our fab FREE tiles: allright.org.nz/festive".
An image of 'Brandy Snap': an 'All Rightie' wearing a brandy snap costume. 'Brandy Snap' is one of the 'Festive Besties, a series of characters created by All Right? for their 2015 Christmas e-cards. All Right? used the image as a Facebook cover photo on 20 December 2015 at 8:45am with the caption, "Who's your Brandy Snap? Hint: It'll be someone with a tough exterior and sweet insides to say it like it really is! Thank them and your other 2015 Besties today with our fab FREE tiles: allright.org.nz/festive".
An image of 'Sparkly Spud': an 'All Rightie' harvesting a giant potato. 'Sparkly Spud' is one of the 'Festive Besties, a series of characters created by All Right? for their 2015 Christmas e-cards. All Right? used the image as a Facebook cover photo on 19 December 2015 at 7:40am with the caption, "Who's your Sparkly Spud? Hint: It'll be someone who is a new friend - tasty, sweet and signal that a new season of fun is just around the corner! Thank them and your other 2015 Besties today with our fab FREE tiles: allright.org.nz/festive".
To address the provocation provided by the editors I wish to reflect upon the ongoing civic and artistic responses to the earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010-11, in which 185 people lost their lives (largely due to poor engineering and construction practices). Whilst the example is very different in character from that of efforts to memorialize July 22, 2011, I wish to use the case to briefly respond to the issue of temporality as raised by Jacques Rancière in his critique of the ‘endless work of mourning’ produced by testimonial art. The orientation of this mourning, he argues, is always backward-looking, characterized by, ‘a reversal of the flow of time: the time turned towards an end to be accomplished – progress, emancipation or the Other – is replaced by that turned towards the catastrophe behind us.’ How might memorial practices divide their gaze between remembered pasts and possible futures? AM - Accepted Manuscript
The seismic tremor that shook Christchurch on February 22, 2011, not only shattered buildings but also the spirit of the city’s residents. Amidst the ruins, this design-focused thesis unravels two intertwining narratives, each essential to the city’s resurrection. At its core, this thesis probes the preservation of Christchurch’s memory and character, meticulously chronicling the lost heritage architecture and the subsequent urban metamorphosis. Beyond bricks and mortar, it also confronts the silent aftershocks - the pervasive mental health challenges stemming from personal losses and the disfigured cityscape. As a native of Christchurch, intimately connected to its fabric, my lens reflects not just on the architectural reconstruction but also on the emotional reconstruction. My experience as an autistic individual, a recently discovered facet of my identity, infuses this design journey with a distinct prism through which I perceive and interact with the world. The colourful sketches that drive the design process aren’t mere illustrations but manifestations of my interpretation of spaces and concepts, evoking joy and vitality—a testament to embracing diversity in design. Drawing parallels between healing my own traumas with my colourful and joyful neurodivergent worldview, I’ve woven this concept into proposals aimed at healing the city through whimsy, joy, and vibrant colours. Personal experiences during and post-earthquakes profoundly shape my design proposals. Having navigated the labyrinth of my own mental health amid the altered cityscape, I seek avenues for reconciliation, both personal and communal. The vibrant sketches and designs presented in this thesis encapsulate this vision—a fusion of vivid, unconventional interpretations and a dedication to preserving the essence of the original cityscape while still encouraging movement into the future.