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What happens when two creative partners – a mother, homeschool teacher, marine biologist and ceramic artist, and an eclectic graphic designer with a passion for collecting and repurposing the overlooked – join forces to create an exhibition?
The result is Bi-products, a compelling showcase of what two people can create when time allows them to create together.
Seven years after his solo exhibition Alleged, at Mangawhai Artists Gallery, artist and designer Mark Lewington returns with a new body of work, this time exhibiting alongside his partner Tabea Salewski. Together, their practices offer a fascinating intersection of meticulous observation, storytelling, graphic design and the natural world.
As the creative force behind Only Concepts since 2003, Lewington brings a designer’s eye to mixed-media art. Using spray paint, stencils, acrylics, vinyl and recycled objects, he combines bold colour with nostalgia and humour. Recent works feature recurring character Jock Turner and an unexpected fascination with banana skins.
“I love the tension between the power of bold colour and the quiet of empty space,” Lewington says. “Whether I’m exploring raw textures or Jock’s latest antics, my goal is to captivate and intrigue. I want to create questions but, ultimately, I just want to make the audience smile.”
Salewski’s practice bridges fine art illustration and functional ceramics. Working from her studio in Kaipara Flats, she creates wheel-thrown pottery adorned with intricate hand-drawn imagery inspired by native flora, birdlife and coastal ecosystems. Her work celebrates both craftsmanship and the quiet beauty of the environment.
“Clay has opened up an entirely new creative language for me,” Salewski says. “I’m fascinated by the way functional objects can carry stories, observations and a strong sense of place into everyday life.”
Bi-products celebrates two distinct artistic voices united by curiosity, creativity and a shared appreciation for making.
The exhibition is showing at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, Mangawhai, open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm (and from 9am on Saturdays) until Thursday June 25.
