AI is more – and less – scary than you think

Posted 2:50pm Friday 19th August 2022 by Fox Meyer

In this issue, every piece of art was initially designed by an AI. We used DALL·E 2 and Midjourney to create concept art, and then had our artists go back over that art to stylise it. If we learned anything from that process, it’s that AI won’t be replacing artists any time soon. Read more...

Opinion: Artificial Intelligence Creating Māori Designs is Basically Cultural Appropriation

Posted 4:39pm Friday 19th August 2022 by Nā Skyla from Ngāti Hine

We were supposed to have flying cars by 2022, but instead, we have bots that don’t know how to differentiate indigenous cultures from opposite sides of the globe. The day that artificial intelligence recognises tā moko on iPhones, automatically generates captions in te reo Māori, and Read more...

In the Eye of the Beholders | Dunedin Art Reviews

Posted 5:07pm Friday 19th August 2022 by Esmond Paterson and Maddie Fenn

Every week, we send two writers to an art exhibit in Ōtepoti Dunedin. One of them will choose a specific piece, and describe it to the other without them looking. They’ll try to figure out what the piece actually is before diving into their thoughts on the entire exhibition. You Read more...

Local Produce | Spicy Paint Job

Posted 3:54pm Monday 15th August 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

In my favourite Spicy Paint Job piece, a demon girl balances a wineglass in her hand. “My art comes so easily when I’m absolutely horsed,” she is saying, an exact portrait of every Critic writer ever. You may already know Spicy’s work from Critic centrefolds past. This issue, Read more...

In the Eye of the Beholders | Dunedin Art Reviews

Posted 3:03pm Monday 15th August 2022 by Esmond Paterson and Maddie Fenn

Every week, we send two writers to an art exhibit in Ōtepoti Dunedin. One of them will choose a specific piece, and describe it to the other without them looking. They’ll try to figure out what the piece actually is before diving into their thoughts on the entire exhibition. You Read more...

Editorial: What is Art, Really?

Posted 2:29am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Fox Meyer

Someone once told me that art is like porn: you know it when you see it. And I think that’s true.  Of course, art is subjective. You might not like it, even if other people do. Most of our art comes from our art team, and quite a bit of it comes from student submissions, who want to Read more...

University’s Art Club Overcomes Challenges, Brings Artistic Minds Together

Posted 2:31am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Anna Robertshawe

The Covid-19 pandemic, the fast pace of uni life and a lack of a Fine Arts programme at Otago Uni are all challenges for Arts students here. Despite these barriers, the Otago University Art Club continues to make space for creative expression and facilitate connection through art.  The club Read more...

The Art of Science

Posted 2:51am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Fox Meyer

Art and science are usually displayed as two ends of a spectrum, but each field is incredibly important to the other. Being a good artist is an integral part of communicating your science accurately, and being a good scientist is key to creating the best art possible. Critic Te Arohi sat down with Read more...

Tauraka Toi: A Landing Place

Posted 2:59am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Paemanu: Tauraka Toi was one of the most recent exhibitions held at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. The exhibition worked with over 40 Ngāi Tahu artists, presenting them with the opportunity to display their art and personal journeys in a collaborative way which facilitated connection with Read more...

Bruce Mahalski’s Amazing Animal Mural-skis

Posted 4:05pm Sunday 22nd August 2021 by Asia Martusia King

Living in Dunedin, chances are you've seen a variety of street art — a couple of hoiho beside Market Kitchen, or the rooster outside of CJ’s supermarket. Bruce Mahalski is the artist behind these creations, performing necromancy on the Animal Attic’s ailing taxidermy, bringing Read more...