Newsmaker: Artist Chris Newman

ARTISTIC CREATION: Chris Newman is one of five emerging artists who have been painting telecommunications cabinets around Rotorua. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 140214SP1

This week's Newsmaker is Chris Newman, on of five emerging artists who have been painting telecommunications cabinets around Rotorua as part of Chorus' national Cabinet Art programme.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Rotorua, attended John Paul College, moved to France to do a snowboarding season after high school and from that point I developed a passion for travelling. The six month stint in France turned into four-and-a-half years working and travelling through Europe, based in London. One of the best things a person can do to better themselves is travel and experience new cultures, food, sights and smells. It's the best feeling when your brain is being overwhelmed by new surroundings!

What made you want to get involved in art?

I've always had a heart for art. I love visiting museums and studying art and photography. I guess it's always come naturally, the family has always been strong in this area. My sister Jessica is an amazing New Zealand artist and her work is very popular. She has been an inspiration. I started painting pictures of friends' cars for them, so they had a keepsake when they sold it on. This turned into people's pets, tattoo designs and then just random imagery that would pop into my head. I love the work of artists like Mike Giant, Audrey Kawasaki, Munk One and Nikko Hurtado.

What has been your favourite thing about producing art on the chorus boxes around Rotorua?

The best thing about being involved with the other awesome artists in the Chorus project is getting artwork off lounge walls, out of frames, and into the public spaces. Street art is such a great and positive thing. Take a look at Christchurch, devastated by the earthquake, but the Rise Up street art project, has injected colour and positivity into empty spaces. Why shouldn't cities be like a gallery? Certainly looks a sight better than boring promotional billboards. And the fact it is helping to keep tag off these spaces is an added bonus. Taupo is definitely taking a leaf off this page also, with their annual Graffiato festival.

What are your hopes for the future with your art?

Hopes for the future are to keep bettering myself and my portfolio, and delivering above the standard of what people want.

The Chorus project has been a great way to raise the profile and get my artwork out there in the public eye. A canvas on a lounge wall may be lucky to see 100 people a year, but out in public can see the same amount a day. Every piece you do, you strive to do it a little better than the last, I guess it's the same in all aspects of life.

What's your favourite thing about art and design?

My favourite thing about art is that there are no boundaries. There are no rules in art. It is as expansive as the imagination is. It can make sense or be the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen! It can provoke emotion much like music does. The funny thing is a lot of people wish they were good at art, they say, "I wish I could draw like that", but truth is everybody can.

Just because the car they draw is out of proportion or the person they paint looks like the Pak'n Save stick man, doesn't mean it's not art. It doesn't have to look amazing and it doesn't have to make sense. And perhaps the sillier it looks the more laughs it will get, which is what the world needs, right?

Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know?

I have performed in my buddy Frank Grapl Jnr's kapa haka group Whakaari across Europe twice now and I love it. Everybody should know at least one haka! Kia Mau. Whilst working in Cannes, France, I was sworn at by Mick Jagger because I ran over his foot with a wheel trolley. In my defence I did say "excuse me Sir" several times before doing so. I had to "earn" a tattoo while in Vietnam by joining a local moped gang called the Nha Trang Easy Riders. It involved me riding aimlessly up and down the resort's main road in a sea of other traffic. It's now one of my favourites.