Ilam Campus Gallery Student Series #3: Ouroboros

Cycles are rhythms that govern our universe, encompassing everything from the orbits of planets to the pulse of human life. They signify more than mere repetition; they embody transformation and the interconnected web of existence. Cycles illustrate the beauty of repetition and the inevitability of change, offering a framework through which we can understand growth, decay, and renewal. In nature, cycles like the hydrologic cycle or the metamorphosis of butterflies show the miraculous transformations that occur through time. In human experience, cycles manifest in the tides of emotions, the evolution of ideas, and the historical rise and fall of civilizations. They remind us that with every end comes a new beginning, and with every loss, a potential for renewal. The ancient symbol of the snake that eats itself, or Ouroboros, represents this idea; a never-ending cycle of life, death, and rebirth that is reflected across time.

Ouroboros is a collaboration between the fourth-year photography students who have brought individual practices together to explore and expand understandings of the cyclical nature of our universe. 

Opening event is 5pm, Wednesday 14 August. 

Event ends Friday 23 August. 

The Ilam Campus Gallery Student Series is an annual showcase of some of the current practices at the Ilam School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury. Ouroboros is the third of five short exhibitions that form the 2024 Student Series.