Lens Pen and Paper exhibition features local Coromandel artists

The idea for the exhibition came about two years ago but was put on hold, due to Covid restrictions. Each of the artists are excited that they will be exhibiting new work.

The exhibition will be hosted at the Driving Creek Gallery ­­ – a purpose-built gallery which the artists say is an ideal space for running an extended exhibition over a number of weeks. The gallery space has given the artists time to plan and organise, and also gives the public more opportunities to visit.

As well as being good friends, I’m a huge admirer of Roi and Phil’s talent. The way they see the world and harness their skill and imagination to create amazing work is really inspiring. Our art, styles and process are all very different but at the core we are all storytellers, drawing inspiration from the world around us. I enjoy collaborative exhibitions as there is inspiration and energy from working with other artists as well as offering a variety of art for the public to view.

– Ian Preece, Lens Pen and Paper exhibitor
 
The exhibition is open over the first Matariki public holiday which the artists feel is significant. On each of artist Roimata’s works he includes a pictorial signature which is made up of a star cluster that looks a bit like the Pleiades

It has been so heartening in recent years to see more and more people – Māori and pakeha alike – becoming interested in te ao Māori. To be exhibiting at this time over Matariki feels very special and very right

– Roimata Taimana, Lens Pen and Paper exhibitor

Ian Preece – Photographer 

Ian Press is a well know photographer based in Kuaotunu. His photography is principally centred on the natural world - our environment and the things that live in it.

The strong conservation ethos on the Coromandel Peninsula has really inspired Ian. He has seen several places on the Coromandel becoming bio-diversity hotspots including offshore islands like Tiritiri Matangi, Great Barrier and Rotoroa. Onshore, he feels very fortunate to have had access to Mahakirau Forest Estate to photograph some very rare and critically endangered native creatures.

 We live in a beautiful country and the Coromandel has some of the best forest, coastline and beaches in New Zealand. Our ecosystem is unique with many of our plants and animals having only ever existed in New Zealand. There is a fight for survival in the face of introduced predators, habitat loss and other man-made effects. This is one of the main themes I want to explore in my work in this exhibition. By sharing this work I hope it helps to people to understand and appreciate what we have here which is the first step to valuing and protecting it.

– Ian Preece

Roimata Taimana – Mixed media 

Roimata is a well-known local artist based in Kuatounu who works in a variety of media.

I put as much of the natural world into my pieces as possible to stay connected with nature. Without nature we wouldn’t exist, but nature can exist without us. So it’s a tribute if you like. It exists for us to exist, so why is man in such a hurry to destroy it or control it, we should all be nurturing nature. This is my existence now as an artist.

– Roimata Taimana

Phillip Fickling – Paper and wood 

Phillip Fickling, currently based in Whitianga, studied at the Art Institute of Seattle and more recently worked for Weta studios before becoming a freelance artist. Phil will be exhibiting the work that was selected for the 2021 Wallace Awards

For our upcoming group show at the Driving Creek Gallery I’m taking the opportunity to put together a small retrospective of some of my personal works, several of which have never been seen by the public, including a couple of pieces dating back to the 1980s. Though I’m mostly known for my work with paper, some of my early wooden pieces will also be shown.

– Phillip Fickling, Lens Pen and Paper exhibitor

More exhibition information

Click on the related link below to go to the All About Whitianga Events section for specific exhibition times and directions to Driving Creek Gallery.