When the sun stands still
Window Gallery
March 2024 - March 2025
When the sun stands still took the solstice as a starting point to explore notions of extended duration. The word solstice describes the two points of the year during which the sun is at the greatest distance from the equator. Solstice occurs twice a year, with the winter solstice marking the date at which Earth’s axis is the furthest from the sun, giving us the longest night of the year and the summer solstice marks the longest period of daylight. In Aotearoa in 2024, winter solstice occurs on 21 June at 8.50am. Summer solstice occurs on 21 Dec, 10.20pm.
In domestic spaces, sunlight, or more accurately daylight, is something that we orientate ourselves around. Houses in Aotearoa often prioritise a North facing position in order to maximise the benefits of the sun for warmth and light. But what is the face of a house? How does our house help us face the light, both literally and poetically? What are the benefits of facing this light, feeling its warmth and understanding its duration from solstice to solstice? How aware are each of us as to the orientation of the spaces we occupy, and the impact that has on our everyday life and existence? Through this work, I am interested in bringing celestial rhythms into relation with the rhythms and routines of everyday life, including but not limited to; opening and closing curtains, doors and windows, sitting with tea on a porch or deck, waiting for enough sun to be able to mow the lawns or harvest the garden, knowing which walls face which way, understanding the creep of shadows from winter solstice to summer solstice, being in different attunement with sunlight in our living space as a Lightbox creates an unknown image.