Another stairway to success

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 2

Another stairway to success

By

ASHLEY CAMPBELL

Debra Bustin’s stairway

to success is not what most university students have in mind.

Most students picture a' few years of concentrated study, followed by a lifetime of financial reward. But this year they will not be able to ignore the young Wellington artist’s impression of the reality behind that dream. Every time they walk into the University of Canterbury’s Student Union foyer, it will hit them in thp face. The once-drab foyer has been transformed. Whether the result is a dream or a nightmare depends on the viewer’s perspective. Leading up into a cloud of billowing white is a stairway, covered with gold stars, gleaming like the proverbial carriage way to fortune. Underneath are twisted bodies, among equally twisted, broken, black branches. These, said Ms Bustin, were those who were sacrificed for success.

“I thought it would be a good idea for a university, because I think a lot of people really take it quite seriously — climbing the stairway of success. I like to make people think about that whole idea. “I think the world’s in a real state at the moment, and I think it’s because of reasons like that. People are very self-interested.” The fantasy world created out of papiermache, tin foil, plastic, and almost every other material available, is all part of orientation. It has taken Ms Bustin and her band of helpers more than a week so far, working 15 hour days. It is planned to be finished by the week-end. Ms Bustin takes her philosophy seriously. Her lifestyle is one of relative material deprivation. She chose it that way. “I have always just got by on hardly anything, and I still do. But I want to do it, so I make sure I do.”

Her creations have been temporarily housed in art galleries and in art festivals. But they have always come down after a few days.

“It’s a shame it is so temporary. I would like to do something more permanent. But no-one wants them permanently.”.

This is the one she feels most for.. 4 4. “This’ is the best one I have done. I just feel that way about it. “I’m doing it for myself initially, I suppose, because I don’t know how other people are going to react to it ... but I wouldn’t want to put all this work into something that no-one is going to see.”

As long as people notice, Ms Bustin does not need any more reward. She is almost scornful about the New Zealand Music Awards album cover of the year award she won last year. “If they want to give me a prize for the best cover, that’s their business. It Just doesn’t interest me.”