Local ‘designer junkie’ cast in show

 

BY JULIA WADE

A second season of a TV show which celebrates the nation’s passion for all things DIY by challenging designers to invent original, multimedia art pieces, features one of Kaipara’s talented own.

Launched initially in 2018, TV One’s ‘Design Junkies’ 2019 series began three weeks ago, showcasing the out-of-the-box imagination, innovation and skills of six designers from around New Zealand, including multi-disciplinary artist, sculptor and ‘fixer of problems’, Hakaru resident Aaron McConchie.

Already a winner of the first challenge with his stainless steel and native wood sculpture created from an old prison toilet, which blew the minds of the three judges, Aaron says the experience has been ‘a real eye opener’ especially in terms of the work involved to get the production onto screen. Far from the typical reality show where participants are pitted against each other and face weekly eliminations, designers work collaboratively and support one another.  

“My fellow 'junkies' are all super talented and it was great being able to meet such creative and motivated people. We all keep in touch and support each other which at the moment, with the programme airing, is a real comfort,” he says. “Seeing yourself on screen is a little weird… I just hope the viewers get what I’m trying to do each week.”

An artist since his childhood years, Aaron’s work has showcased in a long list of both group and individual exhibitions and won several awards. His work explores various social and environmental threads which ranges from the discreet to the monumental in scale, but always with its location and the viewer in mind he says.
 
“However my skill-set often spills over on occasion to more practical exploits, and fixing problems is one of my fortes.” 
Inspired to apply after seeing the show advertised on Facebook, and liking a challenge, Aaron gave fellow artist James Wright, who participated in the first season, a quick call to gauge his thoughts.
 
“Getting the opportunity to try something new always appeals… James was positive about his experience and said just to embrace it and all that comes with it,” he says. “The process was very quick, a form, phone call and a Skype interview, then a little wait to see if I made the cut.”

The six designers were selected for their broad range of talent and expertise, and cast to reflect the diverse New Zealand design community. 

Each week they are presented with a design brief, devised to test the artist’s individual creativity and talents, to construct unique pieces from both new and ‘upcycled’ materials, and have free range on a variety of modern and traditional machinery available in the workshop. 

Aaron admits the hardest part is the pressure to come up with unique ideas ‘on the spot’ and not having the luxury of time to think. 

“Some of my work swirls around inside my head for months if not years but due to the shows schedule, we have only minutes. It is very much like what you see on the show, we get to see the materials and are assigned the challenge. From there it is pedal to the metal to get the work done,” he says. “I’m not one to plan out what I’m doing completely, so the evolution and direction changes you see during the show are real and very fast. We do all the work and there is plenty of it to do.”

Besides competing for points with their weekly design, the artists are also tasked with creating a final ‘masterpiece’ for judging on the final episode, an art sculpture inspired from their own heritage and showcasing their individual style and skills. 

Although censored as to share any spoilers regarding ideas on his final design, Aaron does offer a somewhat cryptic insight.   
“Let’s just say my masterpiece will be moving,” he mysteriously says. “Something I think most kiwis will be able to relate to on some level.”

 Design Junkies screens on TV1, Thursdays at 7.30pm or on TVNZ on Demand. In-depth interviews with designers from the show and from the wider design community ‘Meet the Junkies’ is also available on TVNZ on Demand and YouTube. To check out Aarons work, visit aaronmcconchie.com.


Multi-disciplinary local designer Aaron McConchie hard at work creating another innovative artwork on TV Ones ‘Design Junkies’. PHOTO/SUPPLIED


“I’m not one to plan out what I’m doing completely, so the evolution and direction changes you see during the show are real and very fast.