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The current exhibition at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, Birds of a Feather, explores connection, kinship and the unspoken pull that draws like to like.
Artists Joanna Bagley and Kim Logue unravel this theme from different perspectives, showing how similarity and divergence coexist in art, nature and human relationships.
Joanna, with a background in fine arts and graphic design, brings years of experience in illustration, painting and ceramics. For this exhibition, she focuses on native birds and their environment, particularly the tropical flora and fauna around Waipu, where she is based.
“I have had an enduring fascination and love of birds as they represent freedom, a subject close to my heart,” Joanna says. “My paintings place birds in a dream-like and surreal landscape where floral forms interact with avian figures, suggesting the harmony and vibrancy of nature’s design.
“I hope that this sense of freedom, movement and harmony with nature is contagious, and the viewer can take that sense of lightness and belonging home with them.”
Kim Logue, known for her work in glass and ceramics, embraces a more playful approach in this exhibition, exploring the chaotic, often contradictory connections formed during the festive season.
“My works take a comic jab at the festive season, capturing the unfiltered chaos, indulgence and contradictions that bring people together – whether in harmony or hilarity,” Kim says.
“Through a mix of print, sculptural glass and ceramic elements, I highlight the rituals, excesses and tangled relationships that define holiday gatherings. This reminds us that even in the most frenzied moments, a shared experience is what truly binds us.”
Together, these two artists explore how people find themselves reflected in others and nature, navigating the delicate balance of unity and individuality.
Birds of a Feather is open daily at Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, from 10.30am to 3.30pm (and from 9am on Saturdays) until Thursday April 17.
