They have exhibited together in group exhibitions for the past 6 years, initially as The Associates and now as Art Associates Aotearoa and in May they are opening Lyrical, a group exhibition that could be alluding to conversations between various disciplines, and encounters across arts practices described by writer and critic Andrew Paul-Wood as encompassing certain themes, ‘the relationships of humans with nature and the world, human environments and natural environments.”

Lyrical brings together nine of the ten members of the group in works that respond to lived environments and the difficulties and challenges of recent years: Sarah Anderson, Janneth Gil, Karen Greenslade, Lee Harper, Mi Kyung Jang, Stephanie McEwin, Mark Soltero, Nicola Thorne and Susanne van Tuinen.

In 2023, artist, Mark Soltero describes Art Associates Aotearoa as a group that likes to support one another and shared common issues, conscious that they were collectively finding common ground in their 2021 exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery, ‘some members have left and and those who remain are now even more committed to the group.  Since last October we have curated three group exhibitions in Kaiapoi, Hanmer Springs and now Lyrical at Chambers Gallery.  We are at a point where we would like to venture beyond Canterbury.’

‘Every time we show everything goes up another notch for us.  We are working as a group and we continue to learn so much more about each other.  For Lyrical there is a range of work that feels like it has pushed many of us to make new works that interestingly, collectively speaking,  have been made in a relatively short time to previous shows but it feels more together than previously.   Lyrical feels like an open- ended conversation and also new conversations between us.  It is subjective and personal, but also about a lyric and its communication.’

DETAILS

Art Associates Aotearoa, Lyrical 

Chambers Art Gallery, 80 Durham Street South

3 – 20 May

IMAGES

1.       Sarah Anderson, Stones of Escape 2, Oil on canvas, 710mm x 610mm

2.       Susanne van Tuinen, Rhythmical Flow I, II & III, 2023, Acrylic on aluminium, each 450mm x 110mm x 78mm