Through his new photography book, I’m Going To Miss You, Rob Tennent sends a love letter to Aotearoa’s boys of Summer. Shot over over our first Summer of closed borders, he weaves intimate shots of his handsome friends on our beautiful beaches, into a candid story of long days and hot sand with occasional erotic interruptions. He talks to Oliver Hall about romance, road trips, and enjoying life’s process.
There is something very romantic about I’m Going To Miss You. Was it inspired by a Summer love?
It was inspired by the love I have for summer. I was sitting on the beach trying to write the introduction, and I became bored of the standard format of explaining why I created this work and what it meant. Instead, I decided to write a letter addressed to Summer, as if they were a person. I shared the love I have for them, and the desire for them to stay. It’s certainly romantic because of the mindset I went about it once I had written the intro.
The works are very intimate and celebrate the human touch, which felt like a statement when the book was released in Lockdown. Has the Covid pandemic provided particular inspiration for I’m Going To Miss You?
Absolutely. A lot of my work revolves around touch and how powerful that sense is. It was something many of us craved during the lockdown, and something we feared at the same time. The pandemic allowed me to travel around Aotearoa to see places I would have never seen. It gave me a whole new perspective and was a cathartic period in my life.
That particular Summer many of us explored places in Aotearoa we hadn’t seen before due to the closed borders. Where were some of your favourite shoot locations that you would recommend our readers visit?
I went all the way up to Cape Reinga and just sat on top of the hill. It’s an emotional spot and I didn’t expect that. I remember crying on top of the hill just listening to the wind and watching the oceans meet. I would recommend making your way up and just camping at different DOC sites. I went with very loose plans which all worked out. Russel is beautiful. The Bay of Island is certainly one of my favourite spots.
Can you take us through your process of creating the book – was it essentially one big road trip?
A lot of the book was shot around Tāmaki Makaurau as it was easiest for all of us. But I did travel to stay with friends in Omaha, Kerikeri, Russel, and Lake Rotoiti. These were spontaneous and the subjects just happen to be there and were happy to participate. Some of the images were shot in the Coromandel and Mangawhai which did require one big trip in my friends’ Jeep! A majority of them are my friends, so we had no problem hanging out by the beach!
You grew up in Cambodia. Tell us about how growing up was for you and what brought you to New Zealand?
I moved around a lot due to my dad’s work. I’ve lived in Cambodia, St Lucia, and Papua New Guinea. I’d say Cambodia taught me to be grateful for the things I have, and how lucky I am. Growing up around people that had much less, but remained happy just made me realise the privileges I had. My parents were always there to remind me as well. My love for the ocean began in St Lucia. My dad and I would go scuba diving every weekend. I moved to Aotearoa when I was 12 to start high school, and I’ve been here ever since. One decade strong.
How was coming out for you?
I was lucky. My uncle has been in a gay relationship for over 30 years so it was something I grew up around. I came out at 16 to my dad and he just told me he loves me and it doesn’t change anything. My mum just straight up asked me and I said yes, she’s incredibly supportive and always asks about my dating life now!
Broadly speaking, what impact does your queerness have on your work?
I think it finds a way into my work consistently. I like to push boundaries and create less conservative work. That comes from breaking out of moulds and standards. I cast a lot of queer people and it’s a priority of mine to include queer people in front of and behind the camera for certain projects.
Your first photography book Come Back To Bed explored your return to sex after a period of celibacy, brought on by a sexual assault experience. What did you learn from that time and is there any message you would like to share with other sexual assault survivors?
Time heals. It’s all about taking time to process your trauma and allowing yourself to feel every emotion from sadness to anger. The celibacy was a result of the fear of being touched. It is hard for many survivors to learn to trust again. Don’t rush, take the time you need to heal, it is going to be okay. As time goes on, we learn to live and co-exist with our traumas. ACC and therapy played a huge part in my recovery, so I would always say seeking professional help is beneficial.
You have said the best piece of advice you had ever received was: “Comparison is the thief of joy. What is meant for you will find you. Enjoy the process.” What does that mean to you personally?
I think people compare themselves or their work to others too much. It’s understandable because social media shows you what everyone is doing in real-time which can lead you down a dark road. It’s like fate, your path is set and it all comes down to your mindset. We are all on our journey as an artist, and the journey you are on is yours to enjoy. Do not rob yourself of the joy you have in front of you and the joy your work brings to others by comparing yourself to other people.
I’m Going To Miss You is available from robtennent.com and in stores at Simon James.
