As autumn falls upon us and the days grow shorter, it’s hard not to become enthralled by the changing colours of nature and inspired to discover new creative realms.
It’s time to refuel your soul with enchanting artistic encounters; let your curiosity guide you to the hidden treasures displayed in unexplored galleries and spaces. From Ōtara’s Ōyster Gallery to Titirangi’s Te Uru, this April’s selection of exhibitions brings together some of the most exquisite shows from established artists, across all disciplines.
Bergman Gallery
The Painted Hibiscus
Tabatha Forbes
19 April – 13 May
Tabatha Forbes is a New Zealand visual artist. After living in Rarotonga for seven years, Tabatha is now based in Taranaki. The Printed Hibiscus is an exploration into the botanical study and floral fabric history, settling uncomfortably on the stylised hibiscus as it has come to represent/misrepresent the South Pacific.
Watercolours, prints, hand-painted screen prints, light installations, fabric installations, and wall prints will be shown.
3/582 Karangahape Road
(Entrance 2 Newton Road), Grey Lynn.
bergmangallery.com
Te Uru
Unbeautiful Evening
Andy Leleisi’uao
On until 28 May
Unbeautiful Evening is an exhibition by leading Pacific artist Andy Leleisi’uao of the artists’ rescued flood-damaged artworks, that, along with his studio and home, were devastated in Auckland’s January deluge.
The exhibition reflects on how, just as water cycles through its various properties, when its swells settle and throats are quenched, a new process in life begins.
420 Titirangi Road, Titirangi.
teuru.org.nz
The Oyster
Artist in residence
Elisabeth Kumaran
8 – 29 April
Emerging artist Elisabeth Kumaran is a New Zealand-born, Samoan/Chinese visual artist based in South Auckland. She hails from the villages of Vailele, Ulutogia, and Vailoa-Palauli. The Samoan language, traditions, and the artist’s heritage are core components expressed through her work. Kumaran’s practice spans mediums such as drawing, illustration, hand-drawn stop motion video animation, and hand-cut paper illustrations.
The Ōyster is located in Ōtara Town Centre, below the big fish head.
facebook/theOysterOtara
Sanderson Contemporary
Sathu
Daniel Kerr
On until 9 April
Artist Daniel Kerr builds up texture and layers on his canvas with gels and thickness of paint, while listening to the intonations in each opus. Sometimes he moves quickly and ferociously, whilst at other times he remains in a quiet and contemplative state. In the final stages of completing his works the artist works in complete silence.
Kerr doesn’t work on preliminary sketches for his pieces, nor does he have a plan in mind before beginning to work on the canvas. Rather, memories come to him while working, which conjure a range of emotions that inspire his movement and application of his brushstrokes.
Osborne Lane, 2 Kent Street, Newmarket.
sanderson.co.nz
Two Rooms
On a Clear Night | Papa
Selina Foote
Renee Cosgrave
On until 29 April
Two Rooms presents two solo shows in two rooms, just as the name suggests. April’s artists are Selina Foote and Renee Cosgrave. Foote presents a selection of abstracted paintings with descriptive evocative titles, which prompts the viewer to search the paintings for the visual representation. Cosgrave’s work is concerned with colour, gesture, repetition and her identity. In her new exhibition, Papa, Cosgrave speaks to concepts of whakapapa, whenua, te reo Māori and raranga (weaving).
16 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.
tworooms.co.nz
