Spotlight on an Artist - Lucy Dolan Kang

Lucy Dolan Kang was the Trust's first Creative Communicator. Lucy received a Bachelor of Design from Ara Institute of Technology in 2000 and was recipient of the William Hodges Fellowship in 2005. Her work is held in collection of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, and private collections throughout New Zealand and Europe. She has been a finalist in many National Art Awards including most recently the 2019 and 2021 Parkin Drawing award; Small Works Art Prize in Melbourne 2021; and received the People’s Choice Award for her work in the 2021 Zonta Women’s Art Awards in Ashburton.

'I believe through deepening our listening and witnessing skills we can widen our parameter for perceiving and receiving beauty. My intention is to reveal a sense of grace held within the imperfect and impermanent. To acknowledge the often gritty ‘process’ of living; how our experiences and environments shape us and leave their residue upon our skin. Through art I wish to kindle an appreciation of truth, in contrast to a desire for perfection.'

Lucy has been venturing out in the Pūharakekenui and has been interpreting stories which are shared with her about sacred connections to sites.

Her descriptions of two works that are shared here:

"The name 'Pūharakekenui' translates to 'lain in the flaxes' and tells the story of an inner-tribal battle where the bodies of two Ngai Tahu rangatira were lain in the harakeke. The upstream waters of Pūharakekenui were used for washing the dead. This work uses watercolour, ink from burnt bones, oak and iron gall, mud from the river mouth, soil from the riverbed, water from the Pūharakekenui at the Te Waouku Kapuka springs."

"Funeral procession of a woman followed by her sheep. The land that she farmed is now the Rongoa Reserve where we gathered at dawn to celebrate Matariki with remembrance, karakia, waiata, planting and hangi, and I was told stories of these past experiences of the place."

Lucy has also worked on many other pieces of work (some of which are shared in the gallery above). Lucy will soon be doing an exhibition on her artwork.

Please contact Hannah@thestyx.nz for more information.