The show opened on Thursday, 12 March 2025 and was attended by a large gathering of her peers, family, friends, kaimahi, ākonga and guests from the arts community.

‘Gestures and Relations’ is a photographic investigation into expressions of spontaneity in Psychodrama. The exhibited works form part of Shaw’s PhD at The University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, which she is currently completing.

Shaw explores interactional behaviour within her photographic practice. Utilising her camera as an analytical device to investigate encounters, she depicts ways in which we consciously and unconsciously reveal aspects of ourselves to others.

This series of works investigates the method of psychodrama. The photographs document actual psychodrama sessions enacted by a group and directed by a qualified psychodrama director.

Shaw has lectured at Unitec since 2018 and is also a graduate of Unitec’s School of Creative Industries, completing a Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts at Unitec in 2015 where she was awarded a Senior Scholar award and the Highest Achievement Award in Photography and Media Arts.

In 2017, Yvonne Shaw completed a Master of Fine Arts with First Class Honours at Elam School of Fine Arts. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Auckland Festival of Photography Annual Commission.

Find out more about Shaw’s work at http://www.yvonneshaw.com/

The ‘Gestures and Relations’ exhibition runs from 12 March – 26 March 2025 at Toi o Wairaka Gallery, Te Pūtahi, in Building 108 at Unitec’s Mt Albert Campus. All kaimahi and tauira are welcome to view the works during the gallery hours Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm.

For all enquiries email gallery@unitec.ac.nz