Shannon Novak: Make Visible : Taranaki

Since 2022 artist Shannon Novak has been undertaking ongoing project Make Visible: Taranaki

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Make Visible: Taranaki

"Research shows that LGBTQI+ communities experience disproportionally higher rates of anxiety, suicide, and depression than the general population in New Zealand. One contributing factor can be a lack of visibility. When you don't see yourself in a space, you are less likely to engage with that space"

—Shannon Novak.

Instigated with residency support from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery the aim of the project is "to grow support for LGBTQI+ communities in Taranaki, New Zealand by making visible challenges and triumphs for these communities". It is part of a wider, global Make Visible project that has ongoing chapters in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Queensland, and New York.

Make Visible: Taranaki has manifest as onsite projects and offsite work Novak continues to develop with Taranaki organisations and local LGBTQI+ communities. The outputs of this project are updated on Novak's project page here. and include The Unfurling at the Govett-Brewster with Pasha Clothier.

A black and white image of the Creative New Zealand logo.

Shannon Novak's residency has been supported by Creative New Zealand. Read more about the Gallery's residency programme here. 

Read more about The Unfurling, with Pasha Clothier here.