I had planned to move back into my flat in late March. Unfortunately, this plan was affected by the sudden move to alert level four. My boyfriend Jordi and I had to relocate urgently finding a temporary living situation up north. We were lucky to move into a small dwelling in Mangawhai but because the move was unexpected, we didn’t have time to fill the house completely with furniture. As the house was unfurnished when we moved in, there was ample space for me to set up a studio in the spare room. Jordi being a builder, spends his time building tables and chairs for our temporary home while I hide inside my makeshift studio winding yarn and making rugs using a tufting gun. When we aren’t creating, Jordi and I walk to the beach to check the surf — we usually spend the walk home moaning about the surfing ban.
Claudia Kogachi was born in Japan and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau. Claudia completed her BFA (Hons) at Elam in 2017 and currently practises painting and textiles. Her recent solo exhibition at Sanderson focused on her pre-teen horse obsession including new ceramics made during her internship with ceramists Kirsten Dryburgh. Claudia’s next solo exhibition is scheduled for Playstation gallery in May.
