A close up of Bena’s hands whilst they tie an empty coffee cup to an electric scooter in Wellington CBD with a rubber band. The person is wearing a stripy jersey and black pants.
ArtistRingatoi

Bena Jackson

Bena Jackson is an artist based in Pōneke Wellington.

Recent exhibitions include Bound in secret knots with Teresa Collins (Enjoy Public Art Gallery, Wellington, 2021) and Same thing every day with Max Fleury (Window Gallery, Auckland, 2020). Bena is also a facilitator and studio artist at play_station.

She holds a BFA (Hons) from Massey University Whiti o Rehua.

    Bena Jackson on CIRCUIT · 4 works

    A person skateboards along a bar.
    Bena Jackson

    Town Kids (2021)

    An experience of Christchurch's bus station, platform D, and urban life in the city before the 2011 earthquake.

    Town Kids
    Standing by a sink someone trims the stems of freshly picked flowers. An open bottle of beer stands beside the sink.
    Bena Jackson / Max Fleury

    I am not a tiny sparrow AKA Bouquet for Max (2020)

    A long distance collaboration during a 2020 Covid lockdown

    I am not a tiny sparrow AKA Bouquet for Max
    In a backyard someone juices a lemon on the handlebar of an electric scooter. A red cap hangs off the handlebars too.
    Max Fleury / Bena Jackson

    One who goes quickly (2020)

    The Flamingo electric scooters, now ubiquitous in cities around Aotearoa, are repurposed as objects of whimsy.

    One who goes quickly
    A sculpture of a giant hand with a face stands atop a building. A bubble hovers in front of it. There is a screenshot of text at the bottom of the frame.
    Max Fleury / Bena Jackson

    Same thing everyday (2020)

    What does the perfect public artwork look like?

    Same thing everyday

    Writing & podcasts featuring Bena Jackson

    Max sips out of a cup whilst waiting at a pedestrian crossing in Wellington Central. He is holding an electric scooter in anticipation for the light to change colours and to ride off. Max wears a brown hat, red tshirt and black shorts.

    Max Fleury: Public Nuisance

    InterviewUiuinga
    By Mark Williams · October 5, 2021

    Public space, the lifecycle of everyday objects, and clashing ideas of value. Max Fleury discusses four works on CIRCUIT that include collaborations with Anna Brimer, Bena Jackson, and Sabina Rizos-Shaw.

    Max Fleury: Public Nuisance

    CIRCUIT projects featuring Bena Jackson

    Masons Screen

    Masons Screen

    InstallationPuninga Toi
    Masons Lane, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington · Ongoing

    Masons Screen is a public screen for video art in Wellington's CBD. CIRCUIT curates the screen in collaboration with the Wellington City Council.

    Masons Screen
    A person points camera up to a window, where we the viewer appear to be filming them

    Anaerobic Video

    InstallationPuninga Toi
    Christchurch Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora · 2–31 May

    Nine videos originally programmed on Masons Screen 2016-22, addressing e-bikes, Matariki, reclaimed histories and more.

    Anaerobic Video

    CIRCUIT is the
    leading voice
    for artist moving image
    practice
    in Aotearoa New Zealand,
    distributing works,
    critical review and
    dialogues
    which reflect our unique, contemporary
    South Pacific context.

    Ko CIRCUIT te māngai
    mō ngā mahi toi kiriata
    o Aotearoa, e tuku
    atu ana i ngā mahi toi,
    i ngā arotakenga
    me ngā whakawhitinga
    kōrero e kitea ai
    ngā āhuatanga
    motuhake o tō tātou noho i te ao hou ki
    Te Moananui-a-Kiwa.