French artist explores colonial legacies and environmental impact in artist residency

In the midst of Aotearoa New Zealand's lush landscapes and cultural depth, Clément Verger, a French artist-researcher, has embarked on the final phase of his thought-provoking project Circumnavigations at Te Whare Hēra, a residency that intertwines art, history and scientific inquiry.

The Te Whare Hēra artist residency is a collaboration between Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts (CoCA) at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, and Wellington City Council. It has a proud 10-year legacy of inspiring innovation through cultural exchange and engagement with the public. Artists are invited to spend a period of time immersing themselves in New Zealand’s environment and history, with the opportunity to create works that resonate with local cultural themes.

Verger's work is unique in its exploration of the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world, focusing on the impact of human actions on the environment, particularly through the lens of Captain James Cook’s voyages. His time in New Zealand, beginning in February, serves as both a culmination of years of research and an opportunity to deeply engage with the land and its history. His residency is supported by the French Embassy.

About Clément Verger

After studying visual communication at École des Arts Appliqués (ENSAAMA) Olivier de Serres, Verger was awarded the prestigious Leonardo da Vinci international scholarship. In 2011, he earned a master’s degree in photographic studies from the University of Westminster in London.

He was a laureate of the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris in 2018 and received the National Centre for Visual Arts (CNAP) creation grant the same year. He was a member of the French Academy in Madrid, Casa de Velázquez, for 2018-2019 and in 2020 he was awarded the Collège International de Photographie du Grand Paris (CIPGP) print prize from the Florence and Damien Bachelot collection. In 2021, he received further support from CNAP for his Circumnavigations project.

In 2024, Verger took on a residency aboard an Atlantic Pacific Line cargo ship, as part of the Villa Albertine Maritime Residency. This took him to French Polynesia and New Caledonia, with a brief stop in New Zealand.

His work is held in numerous private collections, as well as in the collections of the Casa de Velázquez, FRAC Picardie, Frac Sud, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Bachelot Collection, CIPGP and CNAP. Since 2021, he has had the honour of being the first recipient of the doctoral contract through the project initiated by the Casa de Velázquez. His Circumnavigations project is being developed from 2021 to 2025 in collaboration with Université Paris-Saclay and the Center for Cultural History of Contemporary Societies’ (CHCSC) cultural history laboratory.

The Genesis of Circumnavigations

The roots of Verger’s project can be traced back to 2016, when he was doing a residency in Portugal. While exploring the vast eucalyptus plantations near the Spanish border, he discovered that these trees were not native to the region but were collected during Captain Cook’s travels. This revelation set the stage for Circumnavigations, which delves into the global transportation of plant species as a direct result of Cook’s voyages.

Through Circumnavigations, Verger examines how these plants became intertwined with colonial expansion, trade and the reshaping of ecosystems. His artistic approach combines scientific research with creative exploration, presenting his findings through the medium of photography. The project’s three phases are rooted in Cook’s three major expeditions, each one revealing the broader implications of human interference on the natural world.

For Verger, this residency marks the final phase of his Circumnavigations project, where he can fully immerse himself in the landscapes of New Zealand and further investigate the ecological and colonial legacy of Captain Cook’s plant introductions. His work, which has already taken him on months-long research trips around the Pacific, now brings him face-to-face with the very plants that have shaped New Zealand’s history - particularly Harakeke (flax) and the Kauri tree. These were pivotal to 18th-century colonial expansion, as they were essential commodities. Through his residency, Verger hopes to gain a deeper understanding of these plants’ cultural and environmental significance, as well as their role in New Zealand’s colonial past.

Verger’s time in New Zealand is about more than completing his project - it’s about connecting with the land, learning from its history, and sharing his findings with the world. The residency allows him to work closely with Massey staff and students, local scholars, artists and institutions like the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, to gain insights into New Zealand’s unique cultural and environmental contexts.

Once the project is complete, he plans to hold an exhibition that will tour internationally, showcasing his research and artistic works inspired by the landscapes and plants he has studied. Additionally, he is working on a book that will detail the Circumnavigations project, offering readers a deeper understanding of the role plants have played in global history and the environment.

The legacy of the Te Whare Hēra residency

Verger’s residency at Te Whare Hēra is part of a long-standing tradition of fostering international creative collaborations in Wellington. Established in 2015 alongside Wellington City Council, the residency has become a significant opportunity for artists from all over the world to engage with New Zealand’s vibrant cultural scene.

The residency provides artists with the time and space to complete a body of work and to examine, map out, experiment, make connections, exchange ideas and collaborate. Residencies run between three weeks to six months and during this time visiting artists contribute to art communities in Pōneke and to the wider cultural life of the city. Through partnerships and public programmes, there is focus on promoting a knowledge and understanding of contemporary art and on connecting artists and their practice with local communities.

Artists also contribute to the academic programmes of Whiti o Rehua School of Art, exposing students to their creative processes and practices. Third- and fourth-year students are able to complete internships with the programme as part of their courses.

Residency Project Lead, Associate Professor Emma Febvre-Richards, says it’s a win-win for the artists and for CoCA students.

“There is a lot of hospitality and manaakitanga involved in having these artists on site, working with our students and contributing to the art community here in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. It’s really beneficial for our students to see where art can take them and to make connections that they might be able to draw on later in their careers.”

Te Whare Hēra’s focus on cultural diversity has seen collaborations with artists from Māori, Pacific, Asian and South American backgrounds.

Dr Febvre-Richards says they’re like to work more with emerging artists going forward.

“We’ve tended to have more established artists take up the residency, but we know it’s really hard at the beginning of a career in the arts, so we’d like to be able to assist up-and-coming artists through Te Whare Hēra.”

The Te Whare Hēra residency exemplifies CoCA’s contribution to the cultural landscape of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. By hosting international artists such as Verger, CoCA not only provides a space for creativity but also encourages cross-cultural engagement and exploration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique cultural heritage.

This residency is part of a broader initiative where CoCA serves as a catalyst for fostering cultural exchange, while simultaneously providing its students with opportunities to engage with the creative practices of international artists. Through these interactions, CoCA students benefit from exposure to diverse perspectives and global artistic approaches, further enhancing their own creative development.

In 2024, there were seven residencies at Te Whare Hēra, and there are six locked in for 2025.