A New Zealand Aesthetic
My work isn't kiwiana, but it is distinctly New Zealand.
Every time I'm abroad, the same thing happens: people assume New Zealand is an extension of Australia. We share a laid-back approach to life, yes. But New Zealand is a distinct place. Rugged terrain. Vast isolated landscapes. Exploding green everywhere. Unlike Australia's sun-filled tropical beaches, ours bring coastal moodiness: strong winds, black sands, cliff tops that feel sharp and unsettling.
Our aesthetic has always been dark, moody, with a sharp, bright light; isolated, textured, and full of nostalgia. Our cultural sensibility refuses to be bright or optimistic in the expected commercial way. NZ fashion is provocative, conceptual, often moody and defiant. Our films and theatre engage with isolation, complexity, and dark humour. Our landscape is dramatic, sometimes harsh. There's grittiness underneath the "laid-back" image.
My new work draws from this sense of living in New Zealand and the beautiful, gritty aesthetic it brings. Our sharp light. Our exploding nature. Our dense landscape. Our isolation. That's what you're seeing here.
