PERCY Thomson Gallery in Stratford presents two exhibitions that open on Saturday, featuring explorative works by contemporary New Zealand painters Nicky Foreman and Shane Hammond.
The gallery says both visually and thematically, these exhibitions are in ways both homogenous and unique, and will work perfectly together in the shared space.
Partly inspired
by a recent trip to Italy, Spain and France, "Here and There," by Waitara-born Nicky Foreman explores different themes that relate to environments she had a connection with. She looks simultaneously at elements of Taranaki landscape along with European sites.
Wellington artist Shane Hammond's 10-patch exhibition "Passage" began as an allusion to the Whanganui gang-patch controversy. He uses text with Mount Taranaki and the circle as symbols to explore many themes including the relationship between man and nature.
At the same time in the Community Gallery Michael Haggie is showing his exhibition - Lay a Garland, Aotearoa
These works are new colour pencil drawings on paper.
He said the word garland is full of meaning.
"It most often connects us to a celebration of an occasion on a spring or summer day. "In Western art and mythology, garlands on paintings decorate the head of goddesses such as Flora or Venus as in a Botticelli, or even a character such as Bacchus in a Titian.
"In this exhibition I have a mixed our indigenous Aotearoa flowers of kowhai, hebe, kaka beak, manuka, ake ake and coprosma leaves with European and English flowers in bouquets that bring together our garden environments," he said.
"I have put these flowers in simple glass jars rather than fancy vases. They are directly seen. The colours, textures of all the flowers and cutting that I enjoyed gathering, hopefully complement each other and contribute to a togetherness."
All three thought-provoking exhibitions will be concurrently on display from November 6-22. Don't miss out.
