Century fire
Invisible infrastructure, hot roads, repellents and rain are just some of the themes present in 'Century fire'.
Focusing on the material properties of repellent Century fire explores the dichotomy between repellent and absorption, extraction and infusion and the important role these processes play in environmental balance as a whole. Each work lays traces of local industry, new and old infrastructures and the simultaneity of their building/destroying amongst delicate ecosystems.
Insinuating different modes of environmental analysis (rain gauges, temperature gauges, acid tests, traps) the works operate as microcosms standing in a space of perpetual stalling; an indecisive landscape of amalgamated industries, building themselves around their own fragilities and shortcomings.
The Artist
-
Ed Ritchie
Ed Ritchie
ŌtepotiEd Ritchie is an Artist based in Ōtepoti. He completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) in 2017 through the Dunedin School of Art and has since become a founder and co-facilitator of ARI Favour. Recent exhibitions include:
Instagram
Soda Ash, Blue Oyster Art Project Space (2023)
Central heating, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Ōtepoti (2021);
heat transfers, Blue Oyster Art Project Space (2021)
Lay in Measures, Enjoy Contemporary, Wellington (2021)
Hush Swarms, Hot lunch, Ōtautahi Christchurch (2020);
Console Whispers, Blue Oyster Art Project Space, Ōtepoti (2019)
Ed Ritchie
Ōtepoti
Ed Ritchie is an Artist based in Ōtepoti. He completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) in 2017 through the Dunedin School of Art and has since become a founder and co-facilitator of ARI Favour. Recent exhibitions include:
Soda Ash, Blue Oyster Art Project Space (2023)
Central heating, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Ōtepoti (2021);
heat transfers, Blue Oyster Art Project Space (2021)
Lay in Measures, Enjoy Contemporary, Wellington (2021)
Hush Swarms, Hot lunch, Ōtautahi Christchurch (2020);
Console Whispers, Blue Oyster Art Project Space, Ōtepoti (2019)

Photo credit Owen Spargo
Firecomb 3, Ed Ritchie
More about this artworkFirecomb 3
Pine, match heads, varnish, seed head
300mm x 230mm
2025
Photo credit Owen Spargo

Photo credit Owen Spargo
Low temp, Ed Ritchie
More about this artworkLow temp
Copper, match heads
245mm x 300mm
2025
Photo credit Owen Spargo

Photo Credit Owen Spargo
Safe Distance 3, Ed Ritchie
More about this artworkSafe distance 3
Copper
455mm x 415mm
2025
Photo Credit Owen Spargo

Photo Credit Owen Spargo
Staller 4 - detail, Ed Ritchie
More about this artworkStaller 4
Wax, plastic, plaster, wire, rubber, dye, matches
Dimensions variable
2025
Photo Credit Owen Spargo

Photo credit Owen Spargo
Century Fire - Installation view, Ed Ritchie
More about this artwork26 degrees 1
Burl wood, citronella, pine
1090mm x 710mm
2025
26 degrees 2
Burl wood, citronella, pine
1090mm x 710mm
2025
Staller 1
Wax, plastic, aluminium, charcoal, rubber, plaster, dye, matches
Dimensions variable
2025
Photo credit Owen Spargo

Photo credit Owen Spargo
Dry Snow 2, Ed Ritchie
More about this artworkDry snow 2
Found image, match heads
140mm x 120mm
2025
Photo credit Owen Spargo

Photo credit Owen Spargo
Staller 3, Ed Ritchie
More about this artworkStaller 3
Wax, plastic, aluminium, dirt, gravel, concrete, pine
Dimensions variable
2025
Photo credit Owen Spargo

Photo credit Owen Spargo
26 degrees 1 - detail, Ed Ritchie
More about this artwork26 degrees 1
Burl wood, citronella, pine
1090mm x 710mm
2025
detail
Photo credit Owen Spargo

Photo credit Owen Spargo
Century Fire - Installation View, Ed Ritchie
More about this artworkFirecomb 4
Pine, match heads, ash, varnish, wire, seed head
300mm x 230mm
2025
Firecomb 3
Pine, match heads, varnish, seed head
300mm x 230mm
2025
Photo credit Owen Spargo