Creative inspiration in lockdown
The coronavirus pandemic has kept most of us indoors during the lockdown and for some it has resulted in the artistic juices overflowing.
New Plymouth man Paul Rangiwahia is one who has been cashing in creatively since March 25, when tough restrictions required Kiwis to stay at home and undertake travel only for essential purposes.
He has been documenting his experience of Covid-19 through a series of paintings and spends about three hours a day with a brush in his hand while doing so.
Three of the eight works have already been completed and he plans to exhibit the collection at Oakura’s Hall of Design gallery later this year.
With no time for painting during his normal routine, which includes engagements around the country talking about mental health, the lockdown period has been the ideal artistic incubator.
‘‘To me, it’s been a real gift for the creative person,’’ he said.
Urenui-based painter John McLean said the lockdown had been ‘‘very beneficial’’ for him as well. ‘‘It’s just been saturation art and I’ve been loving it.’’
He has been painting every day and has completed two works, with another pair close to being finished. Along with his painting, McLean’s work journal is brimming with new aims and objectives. Being in such an artistic head space has allowed a lot of ideas to grow, he said.
Ceramist Maria Brockhill had faced a frantic time ahead of the lockdown as she was due to show her work at two exhibitions, which were subsequently canned.
Since March 25, she has only been to her Bell Block studio once and has taken a break instead.
But she concedes that the conditions created by the lockdown are perfect for creating new works.
She is unsure what life will be like after the lockdown and whether people will have enough discretionary income to be able to spend it on art.