Join Nicholas Lindstrom and Beth Torrance-Hetherington for kōrero with artists and creative types from the wide art world of Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond!
Luck is an intangible and ever-elusive aspect of the human experience.
The concept of luck has many names across the globe, spanning cultures and continents.
A new exhibition at Gus Fisher gallery brings together a group of artists from around the world to explore differing perspectives and culture positioning regarding luck.
The pieces touch on how aspects of chance, unpredictability, agency and control can play out in artistic production.
Nicholas spoke to contributing artist Louise Menzies about her approach to the concept of luck, as well as her experience as a part of the exhibition.
Chris Riddell is a world-renowned illustrator and author of children’s books and the political cartoonist for the Observer newspaper. He has collaborated with artists and writers such as Neil Gaiman, Phoebe Bridgers and Frances Hardinge. In 2018 he travelled to Aotearoa to speak at the Auckland Writers Festival. Most recently, Chris has released I Can’t Remember What We Talked About, a slim volume of 24 poems.
Beth and Chris chat about the creative process of art-making and poetry writing, love of nature, designing pop-up books for the backdrop of Phoebe Bridgers’ tour and magical pear tree staffs. Chris reads some poems and they also speak about what it’s like being a political cartoonist in the current political climate.
underfoot is a group exhibition including works by Māori, Aboriginal and Pākehā artists from Aotearoa and Australia for which whenua (organic earth matter) is utilised in a range of poetic ways to quite literally give body and voice to the land.
Beth spoke to artist Yasmine Smith, whose work features in underfoot, about the significance of art and different perspectives in the context of an ecological crisis. They also spoke about Yasmine’s own artistic processes.
underfoot runs from March 9th to May 12th at Te Uru Art Gallery in Titirangi.
This weekend MOTAT will be hosting the annual Pasifika Festival.
The festival is a celebration of Pasifika culture and Arts will include performances by Parris Goebel’s legendary international dance troupe, The Royal Family, and the roots band Unity Pacific featuring Tigi Ness and Che Fu, alongside a photo display of icons Bob Marley and Hone Tuwhare.
Nicholas spoke to two Niuean performers ahead of the festival.
First Nicholas spoke to solo artist Anna Tukuitonga about her experience of the Pasifika Festival.
He also spoke to Esa-Jayne Peika from the group Tau Malolo ha Niue.
Nicholas to Youth Support Coordinator Sarah Candler, about the Kids N Gigs initiative. An initiative that aims to provide live music experiences to at-risk youth.
Beth speaks to co-directors of the Upstairs Art Gallery, Carlos Toalii and Tatiana Harper, about the Footprint exhibition.
Nicholas also speaks to Esa-Jayne Peika and Anna Tukuitonga, two niuean performers, who will be performing as a part of this weekend’s Pasifika festival at MOTAT.
To end the show, Beth speaks to Are Sundnes, CEO at Hyper Games, about a new game; Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley.
Footprint is a collection of art submitted by the community of Titirangi. The artworks encourage dialogue about the future and what we’d like to leave to the next generation.
Beth caught up with the co-directors of the Upstairs Art Gallery, Carlos Toalii and Tatiana Harper, about Footprint and how the art comments on the sustainability of art and our way of living.
The exhibition opened on the 23rd of February and closes on the 17th of March. You can catch it at the Upstairs Art Gallery at Lopdell House in Titirangi.