Painters explore deforestation, bats
Two Auckland painters are paying tribute to endangered species through their art.
Mandy Patmore and Jermaine Reihana will show their latest work in an upcoming exhibition, Reretahi, at Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson.
The two friends said they had been painting for as long as they could remember.
‘‘I’ve never been good at anything else. It’s just all I have done,’’ Patmore said.
Reihana said he was a ‘‘serial doodler’’ as a child.
He said he would receive art packs for Christmas and use them up by the time New Year’s Eve rolled around.
Patmore said her art was environmentally-based and focused on deforestation and habitat loss.
The Karekare resident used reclaimed native timber as her canvas to question the public’s value and perception of the environment.
‘‘I guess it’s kind of like, if that wood could speak, what would it say?’’
Her art was circular in shape to reflect a felled forest with just tree stumps left behind.
She said she paid attention to the details in the wood and painted photorealistic endangered species onto it.
Reihana said his work was ’’exploratory’’ and always started with the traditional elements of the wharenui (meeting house).
The Te Atatu South resident said he took inspiration from panels, carvings and architectural elements within it.
The 31-year-old used traditional Maori narratives associated with native short and long tailed bats to try and make sense of the complexity of contemporary society.
Reihana said he liked working on canvas with acrylic and aerosols.
‘‘I sort of see the canvas as like a woven whariki, (mat)’’ he said.
The art pieces on display would range in price from $150 up to $2500.
Both artists said prices would vary as they wanted their art to be accessible for everyone.
‘‘We want to feel like people can afford to buy it rather than it just be for the elite,’’ Patmore said.
The art exhibition would take place at Barrelstore, Corban Estate Arts Centre from September 14-17. It would be open from midday until 5pm. Opening night would take place on September 13 from 6pm.