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Following hot on the heels of the successful Mangawhai Art Trail, a new exhibition has opened at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery.
Artists Susanne Grosswiler (Artiste Lys Blanc) and Suzanne Simpson share the gallery to present an exhibition of colour, spiritualism and inspiration.
Grosswiler studied at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design in Auckland and her art practice is highly influenced by surrealism. She paints intuitively and is process orientated.
“I portray abstracted symbolic environments,” she says.
“They talk about life transitions and spiritual downloads. The process of creation is guided by my visions, evolving into paintings of fragmented worlds and dreamlike places.
“I experiment with watery acrylic paint, translucent layers until more pigmentation adds shape and form to the painting. Some recurring elements are watery drips creating fluidity, portals, spheres, pathways, bridges, calla lilies and candles, which add to the cryptic narrative and evoke an engagement to explore the viewer’s emotional association with my paintings.”
The power of visual storytelling compelled Simpson into her creative path of illustration and fine art. An illustrator of children’s and educational books for more than 28 years, she moves easily between small drawings and large-scale paintings.
“Driven by a desire to create art that people can connect with and enjoy, I create works that feel alive, are visually engaging and thought-provoking,” she says.
“I create them using vibrant colours, layered textures and carefully considered compositions. Whether creating works of art with oil paint or digitally created character illustrations, I aim to capture energy and clarity in each piece so viewers can connect to my work and leave with a memory of it.”
Two artists – one colourful journey, Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, Mangawhai, open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm (and from 9am on Saturdays) until Thursday April 3.
