This project tackles the challenge of building resilience within the CBD of Auckland/ Tāmaki Makaurau with respect to social and environmental sustainability. Specifically, how art can be used to foster resilience in university students against the consequences of climate change, such as extreme weather events. My research and design intervention is centered around the recent flooding event in Tāmaki Makaurau, as I have a personal experience and perspective on the flooding that took place in January 2023, and Auckland is projected to experience more flooding in the future.
Through inspiring case studies, following my methodology - Design 4 Conservation (D4C), my proposed design intervention is an art installation showcasing my story with the flooding in Tāmaki Makaurau. The installation can be interacted with and explore how climate change disrupts the connection between university students, their sense of place, and their identity. There is also a reflective part of the exhibit where viewers can engage with the problem by responding to their own feelings through a facilitated reflective exercise.
On the 27th of January 2023, I was away overseas visiting family when I woke up to images of my room completely flooded, sent to me by my two flatmates. I was shocked and had no idea Auckland could even flood. Luckily, my trip ended in the next few days, and I was able to help my flatmates with the damages. However, when I returned home, I found all of my furniture had been completely ruined, most of my electronics were gone, my shoes and clothes were damaged, and my room was completely uninhabitable. The next month, I lived in the living room as I had nowhere else to go. Then, Auckland Council declared my home a safety hazard and evicted everyone in the complex within a week. The next 8 months I was displaced from my home and most of my stuff as my house was being repaired, (we were initially told repairs were only going to be a month, hence we left most of our belongings). When I finally was able to move back into my flat, I found my room had been taken over by some mysterious bug infestation that was only occurring in my room. My body was eaten alive for a couple of nights before I decided to live in the living room again. From talking with the exterminator who solved the problem, I learned that this bug infestation likely resulted from the damp and dark environment caused by the flooding. For those months, I moved from place to place with nothing but a suitcase of my things. I was not compensated for the losses, as I didn’t have renter’s insurance. I felt helpless, stressed, and defeated. I struggled with university initially due to not having any stability, and I felt my life was put on pause.
