Strong messages in new exhibition

Pauline Allomes new exhibition at Fine Arts Gallery pulls no punches. Photo Stuart Munro

Whanganui artist Pauline Allomes is known for her subtlety using a technique called micrography to embed environmental messages in to her work.

With her new exhibition Truth, opening at Fine Arts Whanganui Gallery next Friday, she has temporarily abandoned her subtlety to deliver strong messages about plastic.

"I am hoping those that view will have their awareness raised and at the very least stop accepting plastic bags," she says.

"I have started to despair, as the change in the general public is still so small, we are still giving out plastic bags like lollipops."

Allomes said she painted many of the works a while ago but has not exhibited them before.

"I thought it was time to bring them into the light, because the message just doesn't seem to be getting through," she said.

The Bangladesh government banned disposable plastic shopping bags in 2002 and countries such as Rwanda, China, Taiwan and Macedonia have since imposed bans, with a number of local jurisdictions in North America, Australia, the United Kingdom and Myanmar imposing partial bans and fees.

Allomes says she hopes her work may encourage Whanganui people to get serious about stopping their own use of plastic bags.

Graham Pearson of Sustainable Whanganui and Coast Care will open the exhibition on Friday.

Truth opens at Fine Arts Whanganui Gallery, 17 Taupo Quay at 5.30pm, Friday May 19 and will run until June 18.