Papakura celebrates the Year of the Ox with art exhibition

Papakura Art Gallery is celebrating Chinese New Year with the opening of two very special exhibitions by Chinese artists.

Everything is going Swimmingly by painter Haihui Wang and I think therefore I am by ceramic sculptor Onlie Ong explore the artists’ unique perspectives and combine to celebrate the Asian community in the district. The exhibitions also offer insights into an immigrant’s experience of New Zealand culture and the challenges they face.

Haihui Wang moved to New Zealand in 1998. He has made his artistic mark creating insightful, detailed and sensitively rendered portraits, and was recently commissioned to paint a portrait of Sir Barry Curtis to record and recognise Sir Barry’s service as Mayor of Manukau City. Haihui holds a Master of Fine Arts from prestigious Elam Art School in Auckland.

The swimming-themed paintings in Haihui’s exhibition explore aspects of his new life in New Zealand. Papakura Art gallery manager Emma Millynn says the exhibition celebrates the quintessential Kiwi summer.

“Haihui says as a Chinese migrant from a city in mainland China with no beaches for hundreds of miles, the presence and power of the water around him has had a huge impact. He makes connections between the water and the freedom he enjoys here in New Zealand.”

Taiwanese born Onlie Ong uses the imagery of the banana to ask questions about and symbolise a transition between cultures in his exhibition I think therefore I am. Onlie arrived in New Zealand in 1991 and his work focuses on the challenges of his new life. He has been a finalist in many international art awards in Australia, Taiwan and Korea.

Onlie sees his finely sculpted ceramic bananas with their characteristic yellow on the outside and white on the inside as a perfect analogy for second generation immigrants.

“Even though they retain a Chinese appearance, on the inside they are Westernised”.

In this new series Onlie Ong has explored the idea further creating unique personalities and shapes for each banana - from bananas with teeth to one covered in spikes to one which is laced up like a shoe.

“Although they all appear different from the outside, they are all similar,” says Onlie.

The artists have created a special treat for visitors: an environment that celebrates Chinese New Year with lanterns including some that are made specially by the artists.

As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations the gallery has invited Bevan Chuang to speaking at the opening. Bevan has a background in Museum Studies and has worked at the Auckland Museum. In her current roles she promotes Asian development through art at Creative New Zealand and is a Settlement Support Co-ordinator at the Auckland Regional Migrant Services. She writes for academic journals about exhibitions which explore and promote Asian culture.

The exhibition will open on Friday 20 February from 5.30 – 8.00 pm with speeches at 6.15 pm. The exhibition will run from the 21 February – 21 March; the gallery is open Monday – Friday 10.00 am – 6.00 pm and 10.00 am – 2.00 pm on Saturdays.

More information about the exhibition is available on Papakura’s arts web site, www.papakurarts.co.nz