After a week of traveling around Wellington, I suddenly knew why Wellington is the cultural capital of New Zealand.


Having lived in Auckland all my life, I knew Auckland. When I traveled around China, I saw the touristification (for lack of a better word) of the ancient relics - the buildings were restored with shiny paint that conceals age like a cake of foundation. Not to mention streets full of traditional art in a tough dog eat dog livelihood. Contemporary art in Auckland - in a gallery or two. Contemporary art in China, well, I found some in a basement showroom. Contemporary art in Wellington, however, is found just about everywhere.

It just goes to show, a city (or its citizens anyway and possibly a much prodded management, too) has to put their backs into it to make the creative a part of itself. A stroll down Lambton Quay later, you see how art meshes with city habitation as well as being one of those nice urban details. It is true that, yes, I do like to sit next to the interesting fountain sculpture as I rest my sore backpacking shoulders. Or perhaps on the well composed stone seating. Art is enjoyed, art is useful, art can bring out something different in each one of us. Having creative things outside of exclusively patronized galleries let the wider public experience things - moments of encounter in a world of the lonely citizen.

Damian Seeto

There are a lot of video games out there but sadly not many people appreciate the amount of artwork and design that often goes into producing a video game. The Final Fantasy games are a prime example of this however, there was one game I thought that was more artistically beautiful than any I have ever played: that game was Okami.

Although released in 2007 nobody really took notice of this wonderful game, including myself! It was not until earlier this year that I got the opportunity to play this title. Graphically, it is unlike any other game out there. It’s more like a playing inside of a painting than anything.


However, it not only looks like a piece of art it plays like one too. Quite literally I might add. You assume the role of a Japanese God by the name of Amaterasu. She is a creator of life and players can use a tool called the Celestial Brush. This allows you to draw certain objects such as the sun to allow a bud to grow into a tree or make yourself a bridge if the path you are to take is blocked.

It was a breath of fresh air playing this game and was a truly unique experience. Even if you are not usually a gamer you will be impressed with the style and look of the game. Its Japanese ink – art at its finest. Sadly sales of the game did not meet expectations and there will be no sequel.

Damian Seeto will continue to contribute about gaming, creative practice and the thin line between the two.

New Contributor: Damian Seeto

Bobby Shen

Stuff from the cultural capital of Welly coming soon. And more.

As I was doing some holiday reading, I thought I'd take the liberty of sharing some thoughts I had about the type of writing that I am indulging in.

Animal Farm
George Orwell

I came across this book in a duds bin in Whitcoulls the other day (there was a misprinted page) . I had heard of this book at high school and one time, in a conversation with a good friend mentioning China, I asked her if she knew what Communism was and she answered, "Yes, I've read Animal Farm."

And at the time I was skeptical that a single book (which I found to be quite a slim read) could contain the intricacies of a rather ideal driven political system. What I found after reading it is that it does flatten some of the detail, but all for the purpose of summarising and providing us with a concise satire. The language was simple, yet the ideas were deep if you are brave enough to search for them. Packed with symbolism, one would find it hard to skim past and declare it just a story about a pack of scandalous, unrealistically rendered farm animals.

The drama was light, like an undulating set of hillocks - never too bland, never too high. I think it expresses the seriousness of the message underneath the "story". Although it wouldn't be a book I would use to judge Communism outright, as perhaps you might say such a thing should not be judged but merely discussed, it does offer another viewpoint in an effective form.

Today I was busing to the North Shore to hang two of my paintings for an exhibition. There were dramas to say the least: missing the bus, being lost, walking around the entire Sky Tower complex... lots of waiting for no reason.

But as a good friend texted me: "you never know who you meet on the bus" (or something like that). I was skeptical, she managed to find a relationship at the back of a Niterider (yes, 1am to 3am bus) but I usually don't talk to strangers on the bus, simply because its so temporal and seemingly a waste of energy.

Then a man came up to me and asked if that was my painting lying next to me in a rustling plastic bag. Then ensued an inspired conversation about art, the type of art we do, perception of art. It turns out he does some interesting glass work/ canvas pieces which take advantage of the shadow of shattered glass. I would love to see it and see it on the blog.

He does art as a passion, without succumbing to the widespread label of artist. He has nearly finished a law degree! I really admire those with the spirit to do creative activities in this way, and innovatively at that.

Maybe I'll talk to strangers on the bus more often.