people in a different field that had all these incredible skills. Because
they���re not producing products or exhibiting work they aren���t so much
in the public domain.���
Her design practice explores New Zealand's national identity,
material culture and overlooks everyday things��� alongside an
obsession with repeating pattern. She has a multi-disciplinary approach
to contemporary craft-based design, which covers a range of materials,
hands-on and digital processes and techniques.
"My ongoing interest is in New Zealand���s national identity and how
we choose to represent and portray ourselves, not only to foreigners
"My ongoing interest is in New
Zealand���s national identity
and how we choose to represent
and portray ourselves."
but also to ourselves. I also have an interest in our material culture and
our natural history that are used to evoke our senses. For my Masters,
I looked into how I could take motifs that had been commonly used
in New Zealand���s souvenir industry and use them in a way that was a
little bit different. One of the examples was the fantail and how it is
commonly portrayed as a static image with its tail open. Anyone who
has experienced meeting a fantail knows they are anything but static
birds. They are cheeky critters that dart all over the place and you
are lucky if you can get a glimpse of one sitting still. I subsequently
designed a pattern named aerialantics that featured darted tail feathers
all over the place.���
Whilst also dabbling in jewellery, Genevieve���s practice comprises
of three strands that all stream into one another. The first is oneoff projects that may result from collaborations or an exhibition.
These permit the creative to try out new things without the worry
of commercial constraints. ���This work is fun and incredibly selfindulgent.���
The second strand is products. These are often results of further
developed projects or exhibition pieces that filter down into a more
commercial output. These include textiles, jewellery and paper
products. The final strand is services, which sees Genevieve conduct
freelance design and the odd workshop or kids craft workshop.
With so many avenues of work, time management is essential to
this designer���s success and production.
���I���m currently in the works to get a new line of textiles out so I���m
juggling samples to show stockists to generate orders whilst continuing
to fill orders from previous collections. Plus I have all the other jobs
that I have on the side. Traditionally my work is dictated by whatever
is due first. It���s not the easiest of roles to take being self-employed. It���s
a lot of fun. I can pick and choose what I want to do and I love the
variety it offers.���
In her most recent work, Genevieve has created pattern using
chipped Crown Lynn, and her jewellery inspiration has been taken
from the 'fresh produce' fruit and vege boards seen on our road sides.
Also new to her range is Dead Set which was inspired by bird skins
from the natural history museum at Te Papa.
www.genevievepacker.com
www.h e rmagaz in e .co.n z | 77
