A Short Run: A Selection of New Zealand Lathe-Cut Records 19 Oct–30 Nov 2019

5 years ago by

 

New Zealand lathe-cut records from the collection of Luke Wood. Image: Haru Sameshima.

 

At the foothills of the Southern Alps in the late 1980s Peter King re-engineered a then outdated technology, developing a new way of ‘cutting’ audio into transparent polycarbonate plastic.

Lo-fi but affordable, Peter King’s lathe cut records sparked an explosion of limited-edition releases from NZ’s innovative underground music scenes. Generally produced in runs of 20–100 copies, these records often featured bespoke hand-made cover art, liner notes, booklets, and various other inserts and modifications; audio, artefacts, aesthetics, and attitudes that are practically unfeasible within the economies of scale required by the commercial music industry.

Researched and curated by Luke Wood, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at the University of Canterbury’s Ilam School of Fine Arts, A Short Run brings together a broad selection of these releases, alongside more recent developments and outcomes of lathe-cutting record technology. Drawing from the private collections of artists, musicians, bands, and small independent record labels around the country, this exhibition explores the intersection between music and design in the radical margins of New Zealand culture.

Luke Wood has developed primary research for this exhibition of New Zealand-made lathe cut records out of an interest in the potential for the distribution of music/sound via physical formats in a pervasively digital future. Luke has recently set up the ‘art school record label’, Ilam Press Records, a research initiative and subsidiary of the Ilam Press; an inhouse publishing workshop at the Ilam School of Fine Arts which he runs in collaboration with colleague Aaron Beehre.

Luke’s broader research interests and outcomes are motivated by the rapidly expanding practices and roles of graphic design in the 21st century. Alongside Brad Haylock (RMIT), he has recently co-edited a book, featuring contributions from leading international designers, teachers and academics, to be published by Occasional Papers (London) in late 2019. Luke also co-created the award-winning graphic design publications Head Full of Snakes and The National Grid.

Tags : Lathe-Cut RecordsLuke WoodObjectspacePeter King

Announcing Decades of Design session at Women in Design Day 2025

We are excited to announce the incredible lineup for the Decades of Design session at Women in Design Day 2025 taking place on 21 March in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

2 weeks ago by Design Assembly

Grad Show Preview - Otago Polytechnic | Debrief 2024

A snapshot of some of the featured students at this year’s graduate show at Otago Polytechnic, on 21 — 24 November.

4 weeks ago by Design Assembly

2024 Grad Show Preview - Whitecliffe College | Bachelor of Design & Digital Media | Third year exhibition

A snapshot of some of the featured students at this year’s graduate show at Whitecliffe College, on 22 — 23 November.

1 month ago by Design Assembly

Coming in March 2025 – Women in Design Day: Moments of Change

We are excited to announce our second Women in Design Day: Moments of Change—an annual event dedicated to fostering community, celebration, and education among women in the design industry in […]

1 month ago by Design Assembly

Leave a Reply