Display of former prisoner’s art
Wayne Hansen’s exhibition Soul is Eternal is about the journey of the soul on this physical plane.
It’s also a protest about 1080 and P and a celebration of the spirit. The pyrographic artist also gave pyrography demonstrations as part of his exhibition.
The 13 pieces in the exhibition were created using a pyrograph or wood burning machine, and some are up to 2m high.
Each of the 13 pieces is a part of the story and Wayne says that all the artwork must stay together. If someone likes a particular piece he would be happy to take a commission to recreate something similar.
He’s one of a few pyrographic artists in New Zealand, and his work has been exhibited in the Ferner Gallery in Auckland as well as Taupo¯. He took up pyrography 25 years ago to pass time during a stint in prison for dealing drugs.
“I haven’t dealt drugs for 19 years and three days, because that is the age of my daughter.”
It has taken 12 years to create the artworks for this exhibition and Wayne was raising six children on his own. His kids were pretty blase´ about his artwork until the exhibition opening, when they were blown away by the reaction from the public.
“The best bit about having it here is getting respect for my artwork from my children,” says Wayne. Soul Is Eternal is at the Taupo¯ Museum until June 25.