“Art is in my DNA. I cannot imagine my life without art to feed my soul.” – Mira Corbova, gallery director and owner of The Art Lounge.
Founded in 2014, The Art Lounge NZ is a fine art gallery and sophisticated event venue in downtown Tauranga, dedicated to showcasing emerging and established New Zealand-based artists whose unique styles stand out and move viewers. The gallery’s curated collection of award-winning artists includes abstracts, portraits, landscapes, and surreal influenced pieces. In early 2019, the gallery relocated to a larger space in downtown Tauranga to suit their expanding programme of events. We sat down with gallery director and artist Mira Corbova to learn about what makes her tick.
How did your relationship with art begin?
I grew up in Slovakia (then part of communist Czechoslovakia) with many restrictions and in a very strict household. I had a military upbringing, with little room for self-expression. I found solace in art and nature. I’ve been creating art since an early age, attending classes after school throughout primary. My mother worked in an advertising and design organisation as a creative arranger and I was surrounded by beautiful art and design at home. As young woman, I studied art and photography in Slovakia, then relocated to the UK, where my social circle was mainly creative people. I’ve always been involved in arts, participating in art shows, and helping with exhibitions. Art has always been my happy place.
What is one of your fondest memories surrounding art?
Pablo Picasso is my all-time favourite – I secretly wish to have one of his pieces in my art collection! On a more personal level, my childhood art tutor, Jozef Canda, a well-known local artist, was a formative inspiration. Canda always believed in me and gave me hope. He taught me to follow my dreams and to believe in myself, making a huge impact on my life and giving me a lot of confidence in my practice. Time spent with him, drawing in nature, formed some of my happiest childhood memories.
As a child I questioned my art ability as my expression was abstract and totally different from the other students. When I was six years old, I gained special admission to an art school and at age eleven, I won my first international award at the International Children’s Art Show in Tokyo, Japan. Another fond memory.
Who is one of The Art Loungers most popular artists?
One of my latest discoveries is Tut Blumental, whose March show in Tauranga was a great success. Tut’s paintings lure the viewer to a place where warm sunrises envelop night skies, with pink clouds reflected in the sea’s surface, turning it strawberry cream. A great escape.
Dalene Meiring is one of The Art Lounge’s top artists, visitors are often drawn to her rich palette and harmonious forms when walking into the gallery. South African born, Dalene immigrated with her family to New Zealand in 1997 where she has continued to paint full time. Her work offers a generous and unapologetic celebration of femininity, inviting us to share in an intense emotional experience of time, place, and relationship, portraying a balance between vitality and silent meditation. Her paintings vibrate such a loving and happy energy I call them ‘happy paintings’ that leave you smiling even on the darkest day.
I enjoy working with Dalene, she’s a very talented and loyal artist, a fantastic communicator and always on time with commissions! I often organise commissions for my clients. Dalene’s next solo show is with us in our Tauranga gallery in November. Well worth planning for!
What kind of art do you create?
I enjoy exploring the emotions and feelings through my work. I use vibrant oil colours, various shapes flow onto my canvas intuitively. I paint mostly with a pallet knife, which allows me to achieve a colourful energy in my art that represents a personal freedom and a sense of tranquillity. I love warm tones: yellow, red, gold, and magenta hues.
Intuitive art speaks when words have no form or shape. For me, creating abstract art is an expressive means to channel creative energy with positive emotions that reflect a higher vision within. I believe in the divine healing power of art. I would describe each piece I create as an emotional conversation through colour and shape, a tangible expression of one’s soul. It’s a pure joy to bring sparkle to my clients’ day with my healing art. My aim as an artist and art dealer is to inspire, encourage and connect everyone through creativity and to help people to realise the immense value and importance of arts.
Who is exhibiting at the Art Lounge in May?
On 6 May we open Etterna, a solo exhibition by one of our multi-award-winning artists, Vjekoslav Nemesh. Nemesh’s style is highly spiritual. His work is known and loved by many art collectors across the globe for its unique, authentic, and visionary style.
The artist is represented by several fine art galleries in New Zealand and USA. Originally from Serbia (the former Yugoslavia), Nemesh has been a practising artist for 35 years. He has participated in many solo exhibitions and hundreds of group shows in New Zealand and abroad.
“My art is a reflection of my spiritual being. I would describe my art as a transfer of my feelings and emotions in a specific moment (inspiration) onto the surface of the canvas. Strong emotional moments are very important in this act of creation. They may be induced with music or any other circumstances such as joy, love, anger or worry. As they become stronger, my work will become more creative. What makes a difference is when the artist during the process of creation is filled with the energy of joy and especially Love.” – Vjekoslav Nemesh, artist.
The Art Lounge specialises in connecting people through art. The Art Lounge also hosts events. Located on Willow Street, Downtown Tauranga and Picton Street, Howick, Auckland. For more information or to get in touch, visit theartloungenz.com
