WEB EXCLUSIVE | ARTS & CULTURE
By Stella Roper (they/she) | @stellyvision / @dodofrenzy | Arts & Culture Editor
Image sourced from Metanoia website
Just a few minutes walk from the centre of Mount Eden village, there lies a single garage, or rather, a treasure trove of gems - the ‘gems’ being really cool art. Once you come across the transformed garage to gallery space of 3 Oaklands Road, you are greeted with warm light and even warmer company. As stated in the pamphlets on site, Metanoia’s Emerging Artists exhibition is a project by young Kiwis, transforming a private studio into a public art space to give young student and graduate artists based in Auckland an opportunity to present their artworks to the public and establish themselves in the art world. This description perfectly encapsulates how I felt at the opening. As I was surrounded by fellow art students, graduates and passionate creatives alike, I gave in to the excitingly endless conversation about art practice, student life and how surprisingly warm it was in an open-door garage with no heater.
Despite the space being quite small (being a garage and all), within Metanoia you are faced with a diverse collection of art ready to feast on. Mediums varied from gouache, oil paint, textile work and digital video display. Applause must go to those who took the initiative to put together Metanoia. Both to the people behind the scenes, notably Orlando Quartermain (the head organiser and provider of the space), and of course the six artists apart of the exhibition: Ethyn Vercoe, Clarissa Siddle, Jasper Wang, Rosanna Meikle, Rebekah Sohn and Emily Beaumont. When chatting with one of the contributing artists, Rosanna, she noted “It’s really nice to be in an exhibit space where you don’t feel pressured to socially perform alongside your work. I just get to chat about it, genuinely out of enjoying the work and company.”
As an art student in my final year, I’ve had plenty of time to um and ah about what the future is for the upcoming generation of artists in Tāmaki Makaurau. Whether there is actually a sustainable future for us, outside of painting seagulls and boats for Jim and Mary’s third property - their home away from homes. All I can say is that there is one thing for certain, we need more people doing this. If funding and support continue to lack within the visual arts, it will prevent younger creatives from pursuing these courses. Metanoia, comprised of like-minded individuals, coming together and making a space for art outside of academic establishments, outside of often cliquey, uppity and often, for lack of a better word, aged demographic galleries is exactly what we need more of.
If you’d like to experience Metanoia for yourself, get in quick! Open only this weekend, from 12-3 pm.
Website: https://metanoia.gallery/
Instagram: @metanoiamteden
Artist Instagrams: @ethynethynethynethynethyn, @claryworldwide, @jsper_wng, @strangeandmisguided, @rebekahsohn, @emilylylyllyart
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