Hockey skill and creative spark collide
A Wellington-based artist with a unique practice is headed stateside to represent New Zealand in this year’s World Championships of Performing Arts.
Zakea Page, 19, successfully gained a place on the national team late last year, by painting a large-scale artwork using a hockey stick and ball soaked in ink.
The unusual method, which has become Page’s signature, came about as a way to combine his two passions; art and hockey.
‘‘As a painter, I always liked experimenting with different techniques and so I started painting with a hockey stick and did a video of it which was seen by the International Hockey Federation and I ended up getting to do a performance for the Hockey World League final [in Auckland].’’
While still riding the high of that performance, Page decided to trial for the World Championships of Performing Arts, successfully making the team which will travel to Los Angeles in July.
‘‘Now it’s just a matter of seeing how far I can take it and looking at the ways I can incorporate different techniques to make the performance the best it can be.’’
During the competition, Page will have just one minute to perform and impress the judges.
‘‘It’s going to be very actionpacked, involving hockey tricks as well as me painting extremely fast. I also want to infuse dance into it so when you watch it, it’ll look fluid and smooth.’’
Page says his performance is likely to be set to ‘‘dubstep, techno music’’, which he plans to layer with clips of the haka; a traditional Ma¯ ori war dance.
‘‘I don’t know exactly what it will exactly sound like but I do want to incorporate New Zealand and Ma¯ ori culture because I am representing New Zealand.’’
Ahead of his performance, Page says he plans to talk to local iwi to ensure his performance is culturally appropriate – one of the many things he has to do over the next few months.
In addition to tweaking his performance, Page is also hard at work fundraising for the trip, which he estimates will cost about $7500 all up.
It’s just the start of what’s set to be a busy year, with the 19-year-old set to begin studying Fine Arts at Massey University; putting him on track towards his ultimate goal of becoming a full-time artist.
❚ For more information about Page’s artwork or to donate, email artistzakea@gmail.com.