Vanguard Pasifika artists Andy Leleisi’uao and Niki Hastings-McFall are among a hundred New Zealand artists who have been shortlisted for the 18th Wallace Art Awards, New Zealand’s longest-surviving and largest annual art awards. Well-known for the social and political flavour of his art, Andy challenges his audiences to question conventional views about being Pacific in New Zealand. Niki uses a variety of media including shells, glass beads, metal, filmstrip, and plastic, which she juxtaposes on traditional Pacific symbols. Her art reflects the merging of cultures in New Zealand and the emergence of an urban Pacific. The Wallace Art Awards are worth over $100,000. The winners receive valuable residencies at prestigious international studios. Work by the finalists will be displayed at the Aotea Centre in Auckland from September 8th – October 2nd 2009. The winner will be announced on Monday, 7 September 2009 at 6pm, at the Aotea Centre. Free entry, all welcome.
Niki Hastings-McFall, “Yellow”, 2008. Synthetic Lei flowers, light unit size (Diameter x Depth mm): 580 x 180. Image from the Milford Galleries Website.
