Time capsule a work of art in its own right

Massey University creative arts staff and students have produced a unique time capsule for their new building in Wellington. Every aspect has been meticulously designed, from a specially devised canister in fabric-lined aluminium to a folding book of photos and other creative contributions.

The time capsule will be placed in a chamber in the building’s foundations by Sir Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop this morning, with instructions that it be opened in 50 years time.

The time capsule was developed by a cross-disciplinary team from Massey’s College of Creative Arts, including artists, graphic designers, industrial designers, and experts in visual and material culture. “We wanted to produce a distinctive expression of current art and design practice, using modern materials and referencing the contemporary environment,” says Associate Professor Kingsley Baird, co-chair of the college’s time capsule committee.

The team took tremendous care in the selection of objects to be included in the capsule. “We see this time capsule as a modest and playful koha from us here in 2012 to the creative community of 2062,” Associate Professor Baird says. The capsule contains:

• Kowhai seeds harvested from the Massey Wellington campus, then dried and specially packed by Kings Seeds in Katikati, Bay of Plenty.

• A taonga expressing the connection of mana whenua to the site of the new building, designed and made by Lyn Garrett of Te Ati Awa.

• Contributions on archival paper submitted by current staff and students.

• Photographs of current activities and people at the college.

• Printed bitmaps encapsulating digital information, including audio files submitted by the New Zealand School of Music, which can be scanned back into their original format using the source code provided in the capsule.

The seeds and taonga will be placed in an embroidered felt canister. Even the embroidery on the canister uses a typeface carefully selected for the purpose.

The paper submissions have been hand-bound into an intricately folded book by industrial design lecturer and co-chair of the time capsule committee Matthijs Siljee.

Both the book and the canister will be placed into the time capsule shell made by Mr Siljee from silver-soldered, lacquered aluminium plate lined with a fiery red-orange lining.

“Aluminium is difficult to solder, and it took several attempts to get it right,” says Mr Siljee, “but we wanted to use a typical early 21st century material. Then when the capsule is opened, we hope the contrasting vibrant colour inside will leap at the eye creating a sense of discovering something wonderful.”

The cavity in the building has been lined with stainless steel curved in such a way that the capsule will be hidden from view. “Most time capsules are buried. We wanted to keep that sense of obscurity, of mystery, but with a tantalising hint at what is hidden. We sand-blasted a message into the glass seal over the chamber so that future generations can peer through into the void below,” says Mr Baird.

College of Creative Arts Pro Vice-Chancellor Associate Professor Claire Robinson says the design and production of the time capsule is a testament to breadth of talent and skill within the college. “From the moment we commissioned this project, I knew the staff would come up with a beautiful work of art. In 50 years time, I am sure they will still admire the workmanship and the design flair, even if they laugh at what we’re wearing in the photographs.”