On the street, one to watch
He’s young. He plays hockey, and he’s an accomplished – albeit unconventional – artist who paints his figures using tools from the playing field.
Zakea Page, a well-travelled young man, who calls ‘the world’ his home has just returned to Blenheim from doing a performance piece for the Hockey World League Final in Auckland, where he painted with a hockey stick, a ball and Chinese ink.
The 19-year-old is off to Wellington next, with the idea of following his dreams of becoming a fulltime artist, starting with study first.
But for now Page is home to visit his grandparents for the holidays. Talking to him you get the feeling he’s already packed more into his 19 years than many would in a lifetime.
‘‘I was born in Chichester (England) and have grown up as a ‘third culture kid’,’’ Page says.
‘‘My mum’s side of the family is from Blenheim. I consider myself a citizen of the world but never the less - a proud New Zealander.’’
It’s his parents’ vocations that his meant constant travel for the youngster.
‘‘My parents are international teachers, which has enabled me to experience countries as diverse as Kuwait, Bangladesh, Vietnam and China. Living abroad has been a transformative experience for me, and I have been exposed to a wide range of cultures that I think have influenced me personally and artistically.’’
Page is serious about his work. And he doesn’t mince words when it comes to his passion for art.
‘‘The passion was always there but it wasn’t until high school under a fantastic art teacher where I started developing more.
‘‘When I was in England I went to the Tate Modern Gallery and saw Francis Bacon’s ‘Three
Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion’. The inspiration and absolute state of awe I was in. That is why I think I do my art.’’
You won’t necessarily find Page’s work hanging at the local gallery, and watching him work you get the sense that movement is an integral part of the overall experience of his paintings.
But he says that it is the living in large, congested urban areas has influenced the way he works.
‘‘My work is about the urban jungle. The urban jungle is always beautiful, just sometimes in a very dark way. I have been living in a city of 27 million people – Shanghai - for the last four years and normally get my inspiration from the city - the walls, the metro, the people.
‘‘I focus on humans and emotions with vibrant and strong colours, which are infused with a street art.’’
Of course we have to ask how the hockey thing came about.
‘‘As a child in New Zealand. I played a lot of hockey. And then my love of hockey continued while living in different countries in Asia. This led me to meet some pretty amazing people.
‘‘At 11 years old, I regularly trained with the Bangladesh national team, and in Vietnam I played in their national team and trained for the Southeast Asian Games with them.’’
But why the hockey sticks and balls incorporated into his artwork?
‘‘In China, I got to see Usain
Bolt and Roger Federer in action, which led me to believe the crossover between art and sport is more of a blur. Whether you are looking at a painting or a top hockey player or musician, the sensation of awe and amazement is the same, I think.
As an artist you are always trying different techniques to see what works.
‘‘But my favourite art project to date is painting performance using a hockey stick and ball soaked in Chinese ink.’’
The hockey art performance was recently chosen by the Federation of International
Hockey as the Trick of the Month on their YouTube channel. Combining hockey, art, music and dance into a performance remains an ongoing project for Page.
‘‘I have performed this live performance at exhibitions such as ‘Life, Death, Transition’ at Tongji University (Shanghai, China) and in my solo exhibition, ‘Tenacious’. I contacted Hockey New Zealand about my interest in doing a performance piece for the recent Hockey World League Final, and they flew me over to perform.
‘‘For the two pieces I did in Auckland I wanted the performance to reflect the excitement and energy that is seen in a large sporting arena.’’
You will be hard pressed to find a more devoted and focused artist (and hockey player, for that matter) anywhere. Especially for his age.
‘‘I don’t want to look back and say I should have done this or that,’’ Page says.
‘‘I am no way near my potential yet as a hockey player or an artist, and am so excited about my opportunity to develop with both of my crafts. It’s just a matter of mastering and dedicating myself.’’
Paul Ubana Jones - The Long
Lunch Session. Al fresco long lunch by Chef Bradley Hornby with music by the legendary Paul Ubana Jones. Seating between 12.30pm and 1pm. Email - liz@arbour.co.nz. Thursday, January 4, 1pm - 4.30pm. Tickets $95.
Dub Cymatics NZ Tour, Two independently touring loop musicians, Erinsphere (NZ) and Sid Berry (NSW) link pedals (think Tash Sultana and Ed Sheeran together) and then mix acoustic and electronic instruments (guitar, clarinet, keys, and trumpet) with drum samples and beatboxing to create everything from dubby reggae soundscapes to thumping live dance tracks. Friday, January 5, 2018, 7pm - 11pm. The Yard Bar, Blenheim.
Sam Merral MusiC plays at Seamus’s Irish Bar in Picton on Friday, January 5 (from 8.30pm) and Saturday, January 20 (from 9pm).
Album Documentary NZ Tour, Le Cafe, Picton, Saturday, January 6, from 9pm. Entry $5.
Jan Preston’s Boogie, The Vines Village, Saturday, January 6, 2pm - 4pm New songs, re-makes of old songs, blues and new takes on traditional themes.
Midnight Vagaries Play Soul/Folk/ Jazz at Le Cafe in Picton, Tuesday, January 9, from 8pm. Entry $5.
Sean O’Connor Music, Seamus’s Irish Bar, PIcton, Friday, January 12, from 8.30pm.
Sunday Jazz, Join Heather Jamieson at Chateau Marlborough poolside and enjoy a relaxing summer afternoon catching up with family or friends at our outdoor bar. Every Sunday until the end of February.
‘‘My work is about the urban jungle. The urban jungle is always beautiful, just sometimes in a very dark way. I have been living in a city of 27 million people – Shanghai - for the last four years and normally get my inspiration from the city - the walls, the metro, the people.’’ Zakea Page