Written by Nadia Freeman

Wellington’s newest and potentially first digital art space opened this month, and I am deeply appreciative of the entrepreneurial spirit of Shannon Brosnahan Inglis and Delainy Jamahl. In an era when investment in the arts is dwindling, launching a venture of this scale and quality is inspiring. Initiatives like this infuse new energy into a city and make me proud to call Te Whanganui-a-Tara home.

The Grid is currently running a two-month trial featuring three exhibitions by local digital artists and composers. The inaugural exhibition, “Rivers of Wind” by Delainy Jamahl, is on display until July 28th and includes original music by Rhian Sheehan and Ed Zuccollo.

This new enterprise is located in Wellington’s CBD on Haining Street.  To visit, you need to book a ticket for a specific time slot, but you’re free to come and go within your allotted period. There’s no pressure to leave if you exceed your time.

“Rivers of Wind” is a tribute to Wellington’s notorious wind. As the windiest city in the world, embracing the wind’s beauty rather than resisting it is a refreshing perspective. Delainy Jamahl has transformed eight years of weather data from Wellington Airport into a stunning display of moving digital art.

The exhibition space includes a small side room with interactive LED panels that explore Delainy’s concepts in depth. One panel is mounted on rails and can be moved sideways, allowing viewers to see different sections of a larger image, akin to a moving window. The ingenuity of this setup is impressive and provides a unique, close-up view of the artwork.

The main exhibition room is a spacious, square area surrounded by projector screens. It features cushions and a small bench for seating, ensuring that visitors can comfortably view the art from any position. The atmosphere was calm, with visitors quietly enjoying the experience without disturbing others.

“Rivers of Wind” is both literally and metaphorically breathtaking. Delainy has visualized eight years of wind data from Wellington Airport with thousands of three-dimensional lines that represent wind speed, direction, gusts, and temperature. The data is displayed at the top left of the images, allowing those interested in the science to explore the details. Personally, I found lying back and immersing myself in the experience, accompanied by the beautiful sonic landscape, to be deeply satisfying. The stunning visual and auditory experience was truly awe-inspiring.

The entire piece lasts 48 minutes, but it’s so captivating that time seems to fly by. I could have stayed for hours and will certainly return. I’m eagerly anticipating the next two exhibitions and am hopeful that The Grid will become a permanent fixture in Wellington, offering a must-see experience for visitors to our city.

The Grid is open Tues to Sun from 11am until 8/9pm from now until the 1st of September

Rivers of Wind is running until July 28th.

Following exhibitions will be

The Art of Black Grace: 1 Aug until 4 Aug (by Neil Ieremia) and

Nowadeus: from 7 Aug until 1 Sep (by Tim Christie & The Grid).

Book your visit at https://www.thegridartspace.co.nz/

Silhouettes of three people on chairs in front of large projected image of digital animation called Rivers of Wind