Janneth Gil
Shared Lines: Pūtahitanga exhibiting artist
Darkness into Light (2019) Digital Photograph
Janneth Gil is a Colombian-born New Zealander currently studying a Master of Fine Arts, majoring in photography at the University of Canterbury. Janneth specialises in using art, photography, collaborative practices, community engagement and a broad range of related processes as a tool for social change.
She focuses her work on making an impact on problems that rise from discrimination and excesses of individualism in hope to encourage the community towards considering dialogue, tolerance, inclusivity and maintaining an informed, empathetic and socially conscious society. She is currently developing a collaborative project “Darkness into Light” focusing on the positive supportive connections that are enabling the Christchurch community of Muslim women to move forward with strength and trust after the terrorist Mosques attack on March 15th 2019.
Some of her work is part of the Canterbury Museum permanent collection and the Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi publications. Her artwork has also been displayed at The Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, In Situ Photo Project, PhotoForum NZ, Place in Time, and various galleries around New Zealand.
Shared Lines: Pūtahitanga 2020
Never waste a good crisis (2020)
Winston Churchill's statement, "Never waste a good crisis" reminds us that although the recovery of the COVID 19 crisis will not be easy, it can prove to be a gateway for change in our society and allow us to shape our new future, a rebirth.
With this in mind, Janneth Gil wants her work to get people thinking about moving towards pathways of renewal that ensure greater environmental sustainability.
Her work uses symbolism, photographs of a placenta resembling a tree of life, which represents rebirth and connection with all forms of creation. Image manipulation is utilized to create monoprints. They are reconstructed into abstract forms by painting them over with handmade inks created with found objects and organic elements.