Wellington film-maker and WIFT member Kathryn Margaret Dudding
died at Mary Potter Hospice on Saturday 21 August, after a short
but fierce battle with lung cancer. Although Kathy had smoked in
her teens and twenties, she had given up on becoming pregnant with
her daughter Amohia over 20 years ago. Kathy faced her illness with
the same determination she lived her life, fighting to the end.
Kathy was born in Te Kuiti and raised by her adoptive parents on
a farm near Wellsford, the location of, and inspiration for, her
second film, Hey Daisy (1983).
Her adventurous spirit manifested early - leaving home at 17,
then heading to France at 19, she nannied for a French family while
immersing herself in the counter-culture of the time, developing a
political consciousness that would later surface in films such as
the award-winning Kanaky Au Pouvoir (1988) and Asylum
Pieces (2010).
Identity and family were enduring concerns in both her
professional and personal life, and she often used or referred to
members of her family in her productions, such as Hey
Daisy, the semi-autobiographical Smash Dupe
(1985), The Return (2008), and the acclaimed Asylum
Pieces.
Kathy's passion, humour, and intelligence were not confined only
to film but found an outlet in numerous spheres, from poetry and
prose to academic commentary, receiving recognition in anthologies,
publications, and conferences. Her erotic poetry exemplifies her
unique combination of sensuousness and fun.
Kathy's academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Victoria University and a Master of Fine Arts from Massey
University in Video Art. Her academic prowess was recognised in the
awarding of a Fulbright Award in May 2010, which she used to travel
to New York to present a paper at the Orphan Film Symposium.
Her filmography includes:
Pushing Up Daisies (1983)
Hey Daisy (1983)
Smash Dupe (1985)
Kanaky Au Pouvoir. Power To The Kanak People (1988)
Lilly In The House Of Lipsticks (2001)
Tra(Nz)Mission (Video Art, 2004)
"Vantv" Compilation (2005)
Holiday Wheels (2005)
The Return (2008)
Asylum Pieces (2010)
Kathy found love late but lost it early - her partner Jonathan
Hewison committed suicide days after being prescribed SSRI
anti-depressants, providing the impetus for her last film,
Asylum Pieces. This work shows an artist at the height of
her powers, presenting a subject of great personal and social
significance in a deeply moving and artistically ground-breaking
way.
It is nothing less than a tragedy that such a talent has been
taken from us, but she has left a legacy of creative works that
will continue to stimulate, challenge, and amuse.
Kathy is survived by her daughter Amohia, her mother Beverly,
sisters Jenny and Eileen, and brothers Alan and Murray.
(Obituary written by close friend Julie Webb-Pullman.)