Young Kiwi artists given chance to shine

4 February 2004

Young Kiwi artists given chance to shine in New Zealand's busiest 'art gallery'

The wraps come off the artistic endeavours of five promising Kiwi artists today whose works have been chosen to grace the walls of one of New Zealand's highest exposure art settings - Air New Zealand's Auckland Koru Lounge. More than 90,000 travellers will see the work of these five young women during the next four months.

It forms part of the airline's revolving art exhibition, this concept, which runs in both the Auckland and Wellington Koru Lounges, has been a huge success with both travellers and the New Zealand art scene since it launched in early 2003.

The Elam artists selected are a group of women who graduated at the end of 2004. Each piece of work has been influenced and shaped by the artist's cultural and social background.

With over 270,000 people passing through the Auckland Koru Lounge each year the exhibition creates a unique opportunity to showcase New Zealand artwork outside of the normal gallery format, where regular customer numbers would be only a fraction of those passing through the Koru Lounge.

The graduates involved in the exhibition are:

* Sarah Dutt, 26 - Sarah Dutt's pieces are a cultural collision and combination of her Indian, Maori, Pacific and Pakeha heritage. By using motifs from these various cultures Sarah has created a new visual language.

* Kirstie Pickering, 22 - Kirstie Pickering's work includes a series of prints called "Influence of a Hand" As Kirstie has hearing loss she has used self portraits to portray interpretations of values through sign language.

* Kate Stanton, 22 - Kate Stanton has explored the cultural dimensions of language in its various forms, from the official through to the use of graffiti. * Kimberly Phillips, 21 - Kimberly Phillips has depicted horses as important elements in our culture, as practical animals and companions as well as the mythic and symbolic connections they have.

* Katy Lyon, 25 - Katy Lyons ordinary houses at first appear to be your typical bach by the beach, and the traditional brick and tile house in the suburbs. She has further layered the works in having used houses where a murder has occurred.

Derrick Cherrie, Head of Elam School of Fine Arts at The University of Auckland's National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries sees the exhibition as a great opportunity for Elam's graduates.

"The Koru lounge exhibition is a wonderful initiative, a chance for emerging artists to showcase their work and gain public exposure to a diverse audience."

He adds: "By introducing the exhibition Air New Zealand has created another dimension to the travelling experience, as well as utilising a space where artists can gain unprecedented visibility in New Zealand.

"The graduates chosen to exhibit their work have contributed a collection of eclectic high calibre pieces. I am thrilled this talented group of women will have their work seen by so many New Zealanders."

The managed art programme underlines Air New Zealand's strategy of showcasing the best of New Zealand food, wine, creative talent and service.

ENDS

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