New Zealand artist Arwen Flowers (MVA) examines body-held and felt learning through her painting practice. Flowers' body's knowledge has been acquired through domestic maintenance activities. This internal wisdom emerges as gesturally painted abstractions experienced as events. Each painting contains traces of a unique visual language encoded with references to places, people, objects, memories and experiences. While applying and removing mediums with wiping and scrubbing motions, Flowers explores states of physical and material control. Each mark results from close proximity encounters with prepared surfaces and is influenced by haptic engagement and borrowed colour while working with and against abjection. Flowers connects with the viewer through affective relationships, questioning notions of care, ownership and agency.
2024 - Master of Visual Art, Auckland University of Technology, NZ
1995 - Bachelor of Fine Art, Elam School of Fine Art, Auckland, NZ 2021 - Supreme Winner, Kumeu Arts Art Awards 2021 - Finalist, Emerging Artist Award, Upstairs Gallery 2019 - Supreme Winner, The Trusts Greater Auckland Art Awards 2019 - Inspirational NZ Category Winner, The Trusts Greater Auckland Art Awards |