ECOSOPHY RESIDENCY & EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITY
We are excited to announce our spring residency and exhibition opportunity at Matter Gallery. Expressions of interest being taken now.
Residency supported and funded by Creative Communities Scheme, a joint initiative of Creative New Zealand and the Tauranga City Council.
Matter’s inaugural residency in spring 2025 gives a selected artist the opportunity to use our gallery space to create work for exhibition which focuses on response/ collaboration with nature within Tauranga Moana’s biosphere. The artist should embrace Matters' eco-philosophical ethos for the subsequent ECOSOPHY exhibition, with sustainable artmaking practices, incorporating natural or bio-materials. Links to application at the end of this page.
The ECOSOPHY exhibition will include 1-2 other local artists who also demonstrate serious and imaginative commitment to enquiry and exploration around sustainable art practices.
Matter will host a public talk with the selected resident, in conversation with one of our team.
BACKGROUND
Matter is a materials-based art space, a time-limited project (Jul-Nov 2025) for Tauranga Moana designed to stimulate creative thinking and making, and to provide additional space for local creatives to make, show and share their work and ideas. Our vision is for Matter to shift public and sector focus within visual arts, championing creatives who think differently about materials.
Tauranga has limited space for artists to work and to exhibit. Many are restricted to garages, spare rooms and even kitchen tables. We would like to use our short lease to provide a mini residency for a selected artist, possibly emerging, to create new work on ecological themes, and to show and share this work in an exhibition with the working title ECOSOPHY, alongside other local creatives.
At Matter we value inclusivity, sharing, connecting, curiosity, story-telling, environmentalism , innovation, craft & skills, and collaboration. And want to give back to our community.
THE PROJECT
The mini-residency will give a local artist two weeks in a 50sqm studio space to create new work based on an eco-philosophical theme and in response to the local environment, and they will receive a modest stipend for their time. During the residency the studio will be open to the public at selected times, and the artist will be expected to deliver a talk about their work, in conversation with the Matter team. Resulting artwork will be selected for a curated exhibition alongside other local artists, to highlight how creative practices can also be sustainable and to encourage audiences to think differently about materials.
We will publicise the project through local media and other arts organisations.
The residency will increase provision and support for developing creative practice, highlight links between the arts and environmentalism, and create an accessible place for public education on this. We would also like to invite local education providers to engage.
TIMELINE
1. We will issue a call-out ASAP for interested artists, using Creative Bay of Plenty and our own social media to promote. Deadline for responses midnight 5 October.
2. Our expanded team (co-directors and at least one of our advisory panel) will select the most appropriate candidate, tell them and announce this online. Week of 6-10 October.
3. The resident will get 2 weeks at Matter from Tuesday 14 - Monday 27 October. We'll check their materials, support and other needs in advance, and keep in close contact with them throughout the residency, to maximise the value that the artist can make of their time at Matter.
4. We'll hold a public talk with the artist on 25 October.
5. Selection/curation of artwork and ECOSOPHY exhibition installation 28-29 October, to open evening of Wednesday 29 October.
6. ECOSOPHY exhibition concludes Saturday 15 November.
7. Post project evaluation with artists and advisory panel, before the end of November.
WHAT THE ARTIST GETS
Studio Days
Exhibition
Stipend
Please note, this residency is open to artists from the Bay of Plenty region only and does not include or provide for accommodation expenses, travel expenses, or food expenses.
WHAT WE GET
The artists commitment and engagement.
Residency supported and funded by Creative Communities Scheme, a joint initiative of Creative New Zealand and the Tauranga City Council.
What is Ecosophy?
Arne Næss, a Norwegian philosopher and mountaineer, coined the term Ecosophy in the1970s. This concept, also known as Deep Ecology, is an environmental and socio-political philosophy rooted in two core ideas: ecology (the relationship of living things to their environment) and sophia (the Greek word for wisdom).
Næss defined Ecosophy as a philosophy of ecological harmony or equilibrium. It is a form of wisdom that includes not only a description of the world but also norms, rules, and value priorities. The core principle of Ecosophy is that nothing exists in isolation; instead, a single interconnected world exists where all things are defined by their relationships.
Embracing ecosophy as an artist would involve creating work that reflects an understanding of ecological harmony and interconnectedness. Your art would not just be about nature, but of it, blurring the lines between creation and the natural world.
Informing Ideas
The ideas that would inform your work as an artist embracing ecosophy are centred around the core principles of the philosophy:
Radical interconnectedness: You would explore the idea that nothing exists in isolation. Your art would highlight the relationships between all living and non-living things, from the smallest microbe to the largest forest.
Biocentric equality: This is the belief that all living things have an equal right to live and flourish. Your art might challenge the anthropocentric (human-centred) view of the world, giving voice and presence to non-human entities.
The "deep" vs. "shallow" divide: Your work could go beyond "shallow ecology," which focuses on fighting pollution and resource depletion for the benefit of humans. Instead, it would delve into "deep ecology," which questions the fundamental worldview that has led to these problems, aiming for a total paradigm shift.
Self-realisation: Næss believed that as we expand our sense of self to include the natural world, we achieve a deeper form of self-realization. Your art could be a tool for this, helping viewers connect with a broader "ecological self."
Process over product: The very act of creating could become part of the art itself, reflecting the ongoing, ever-changing processes of nature. Your pieces might be ephemeral or designed to evolve over time.
Potential Materials
The materials you could use would be a direct extension of these ideas, focusing on sustainability, locality, and the natural cycle of life.
Found and Foraged Materials: Instead of new, manufactured materials, you could use objects found in nature—fallen branches, leaves, stones, sand, or shells. This practice honours the principle of using what is already available and integrates the "outside" into your art.
Living and Decomposable Media: Your art could be made of living things, such as seeds, moss, or fungi, allowing it to grow and change. You could also use materials that decompose and return to the earth, like unfired clay, plant-based dyes, or natural fibres like jute and hemp. This practice directly embodies the cycle of life and death, an essential tenet of ecosophy.
Natural Pigments and Dyes: Instead of synthetic paints, you could create your own colours from foraged plants, minerals, and soils. This connects your work to the specific geology and flora of your location.
Minimalist and Recycled Materials: If you must use man-made materials, opt for recycled or upcycled options, such as reclaimed wood, salvaged metal, or repurposed glass. The principle here is to create no additional waste and to give new life to discarded objects.
Water and Light: You could use only ephemeral elements like light and water, focusing on their patterns, refractions, and reflections to create temporary, non-consumptive art.
Submit application via Google Forms or email applications to info@mattergallery.co.nz
by midnight, 05 October 2025