Ans Westra, 'Brendan and Jimmy Holder with Their dog Georgie, Bush St, Naenae' from the series 'Portrait of the Hutt', courtesy of the artist and Suite Tirohanga.
Ans Westra, 'Glen and Robin Martin, Judd Cres, Naenae' from the series 'Portrait of the Hutt', 1988-1989. Courtesy of the artist and Suite Tirohanga
Ans Westra, 'Family, Hillary Court, Naenae' from the series 'Portrait of the Hutt', 1988-1989. Courtesy of the artist and Suite Tirohanga
Ans Westra, 'Huia Mullins, Sherry Rua and Son outside library, Naenae' from the series 'Portrait of the Hutt', 1988-1989. Courtesy of the artist and Suite Tirohanga
Ans Westra, 'Hillary Court, Naenae' from the series 'Portrait of the Hutt', 1988-1989. Courtesy of the artist and Suite Tirohanga
Yarns With Ans Westra
When we think about our place in Te Awakairangi, Lower Hutt, how do we see ourselves?
On a rainy morning at the beginning of autumn, in a slightly unpredictable council car, The Dowse joined photographer Ans Westra and curator Sian van Dyk for a four-wheeled wander through the streets of Naenae to visit some of the photographs taken by Ans in the area in 1988 -1989, and which have now been produced as billboards as part of the exhibition Time Capsule: Ans Westra in the Hutt.
We talk with Ans about her relationship with her subjects, her proclivity for getting in and out of trouble, and the real struggle photographers face in trying to keep their eyes on the road…