Post Covid19 lockdown

Where did the first 6 months of 2020 disappear to? Yes lockdown took a chunk but it seems as if time is rapidly disappearing reminding us that what we put our time towards is important. After coming out of lockdown we have had a large number of enquiries for private commissioned pieces and maybe with the inability to travel internationally many people are deciding to invest in art that brings life to their spaces.

These recent commissions are both found in different East Auckland locations. Working from a colour them started white painting the Newmarket Westfield project we have continued to present pieces that are contemporary, cultural & current. We hope you have made it through this uneasy season for Aotearoa & the world, life begins to get very busy again for us and we envision to push our online presence as much as we can so thank you for joining in!

PUMA X REDRAT Mentorship Programme

Over the past 6 months we have been working alongside Puma & Redrat Clothing on a mentorship programme. 3 creatives working in dance, music & the arts had the opportunity to mentor successful applicants through an online competition to help establish their careers & teach them tricks we've learnt along our professional journey.

We had the pleasure of working with NZ based artist Ushy Ushy who creates contemporary taniwha characters & draws from the early 90s experiences producing art that is a modern nostalgic twist for the street. Thank you to everyone who has worked hard behind the scenes to make this happen, it has been a pleasure to collaborate with a brand who understands the value of creativity & is putting their hand & products where their mouth is!

#puma #pumaxredrat #redratclothing #grafffiti #streetart #mural #collaboration #ushyushy #phat1 #ladydiva

Whale Tales 2021

In early February we had the privilege of being 1 of 3 artists chosen to participate in the launch of 'Whale Tales 2021'. Held at the Auckland Art Gallery, the evening consisted of the host organisations sharing their connections & purpose for the fund-raising event & the presentation of the works which were painted onto large whale tails. Thank you to WWF, Wild in Art & ATEED for the invitation we can't wait to see everything come together, below is a little background taken from the ATEED website.

70 Tails, 70 tales, 70 artists, 10 weeks, 1 city, 1 mission!

A truly immersive experience celebrating Aotearoa, art, and marine conservation is coming to Auckland February 2021. Whale Tales is a public art trail exploring Tāmaki Makaurau and you’re invited!

Auckland’s streets, parks, and open spaces will be adorned with 70 individually designed, beautifully created whale tail sculptures for 10 weeks during the summer/autumn of 2021. This event is presented by WWF-New Zealand, Wild in Art and made possible through the support of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) on behalf of Auckland Council. Whale Tales is an opportunity for New Zealand’s artists, businesses, schools, community groups, and individuals to collaborate on a marine-themed public art installation, coinciding with the 36th America’s Cup, to capture the hearts of visitors and residents alike while also generating awareness and action for our ocean’s health.

Inspired by Hauraki Gulf resident- the Bryde’s Whale, these sculptures will each tell the tale of marine conservation, particularly of the magically diverse Hauraki Gulf. Bryde’s Whale are found in the coastal waters around the Hauraki Gulf/Tikapa Moana/Te Moana Nui a Toi. In New Zealand, Bryde’s Whale are endangered with only an estimated 140-250 remaining. They feed and rest close to the surface, making them vulnerable to ship strikes, noise pollution, reductions in habitat, climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, and other human activities in the ocean.

Photos - Brendon O'Hagen