Lauren Lysaght 'Kutarere Sunrise'

Saturday, 8 September-25 November 2018
WHAKATĀNE MUSEUM AND ARTS 
Sheaff Family Gallery - Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi - Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre

In Kutarere Sunrise, New Zealand mixed media artist Lauren Lysaght encourages audiences to take the hand of her childhood self and brings them with her into the butcher shop once owned by her dad, Nelson Lysaght. Inside, pinkish-red strings of saveloy and polony sausages hang on bright gold hooks, and behind the glass front of the display cabinet, roasts readied for the Sunday oven sit beside gleaming silver trays of fresh ground mince. On the counter out the back is a meat pack patiently waiting to be adorned with parsley for an upcoming R.S.A. raffle, a job performed with great honour by a young Lauren.

With its mixture of dead seriousness and humour, female craft and reflections on male labour, Kutarere Sunrise, is a longing tribute to Nelson, who Lysaght remembers as a kind and loving father. Later, when her parents separated and Nelson remarried, dad and daughter became estranged; Lysaght sees this collection of works as her way of "putting things right with him." Indeed, a sweet sense of nostalgia abounds in this time-travelling exhibition, right down to the name. As a child, the artist and her father would often jump in the car and head to Kutarere, near Opotiki; Nelson's favourite holiday spot. They would wake up at the crack of dawn to travel to the coastal locale - the “sunrise” in the title. Her dad was at his happiest there, she says. 

Saturday, 8 September 2018 - 11am
Join mixed media artist Lauren Lysaght as she discusses her new exhibition – Kutarere Sunrsise – and explains the processes and stories behind her artworks.  All are welcome to join us for this free event. No bookings required.