Samantha Stephens

You Never Know Which Side You'll Fall

Master of Fine Arts

Master of Fine Arts

This research examines the art of protest posters and what it means to engage in a public space as an artist. Primarily through text and printmaking, it explores what could start a dialogue around protest and current events in Aotearoa and globally. Graphic design, traditional, modern printmaking techniques such as urban street art, and both traditional and modern printmaking techniques have shaped this exegesis and creative body of work.

This research project is concerned with discussion around issues facing Aotearoa and its current government’s policy and decision-making. Protest and protest art is core to how we discuss, react to, and unpack public issues. I am influenced by the process of making, creative practice research, design-art and modern protest material. The crux of this practice is making protest art publicly accessible to anyone.