For Ben Cauchi

A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston

Wanganui photographer Ben Cauchi has an exhibition opening at City Gallery Wellington on 20 October. Cauchi works with 19th century photographic techniques - salt prints, tintypes, ambrotypes, wet collodion plates - formats that require fast, accurate hand processing and are open to mishap and failure. This set brings together examples of Cauchi's own work with historical examples of these photographic processes. There's a denseness and mystery to Cauchi's work that I find very appealing. Assembling even this small collection of his work also makes me start to see motifs: the camera as face/eye, the glowing heart, the domestic rendered ghostly, empty space that's full of presence.

Image: Loose Canvas

Loose Canvas

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Self-portrait

Self-portrait

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: The photographer's shirt

The photographer's shirt

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior, early hours

Interior, early hours

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Tanner album

Tanner album

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Portrait of a Maori woman

Portrait of a Maori woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: James Francis Meadows, fl 1850

James Francis Meadows, fl 1850

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified man and two boys

Unidentified man and two boys

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified man and woman

Unidentified man and woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified man

Unidentified man

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified woman

Unidentified woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Seated couple

Seated couple

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unidentified woman

Unidentified woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Building and park, Britain

Building and park, Britain

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori man from Hawkes Bay

Maori man from Hawkes Bay

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Arihi Te Nahu

Arihi Te Nahu

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mr Hadley

Mr Hadley

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Heda Henly

Heda Henly

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Miss Mima (Jemima) Potto

Miss Mima (Jemima) Potto

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori woman, Hawkes Bay district

Maori woman, Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Man riding a Boneshaker bicycle

Man riding a Boneshaker bicycle

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tomb of Potatau Te Wherowhero

Tomb of Potatau Te Wherowhero

Alexander Turnbull Library