David Cook: Meet Me in the Square

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A photograph from David Cook's exhibition, <em>Meet Me in the Square</em>. — A photograph from David Cook’s exhibition, *Meet Me in the Square*. Image: David Cook

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As a student in the 1980s', Cook wandered the streets of Christchurch at all times of day and night taking photographs. — As a student in the 1980s’, Cook wandered the streets of Christchurch at all times of day and night taking photographs. Image: David Cook

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The exhibition is on display at Christchurch Art Gallery until May 2015. Image: David Cook

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An exploration of 1980s’ Christchuch, photographer David Cook’s images show central Christchurch as we will never see it again.

As a student of the University of Canterbury’s School of Fine Arts in the 1980s’, Cook wandered the streets at all times of day and night, finding new vantage points and meeting strangers. The camera was his licence to explore. Part anthropologist, part cultural commentator, he captured bell-ringers and boot boys, beery crowds, nuns, mums with prams, ‘the seagull man’ and royal watchers – and in doing so, created a body of work that continues to resonate.