Laura Forest
I used to come here from afar for gigs and to immerse myself in the culture and other-worldliness of the place. Karangahape Rd was unapologetic and authentic then and although some of the edginess has a different patina now, it’s still the place I feel most comfortable in the city.
When I moved to Auckland, Karangahape Road was the centre point for most of my social and cultural experiences. I grew older still and participated in the fabric of the precinct renting studios as a professional creative and photographer. Now this place is just an old friend full of old friends, there’s no grime to this place in my eyes, just honesty. Using film was the natural choice for this project. I wanted immediate and accessible portraits of people who represent the community of Karangahape Road to me..