'Mauri Ora', the annual show by King Street Artworks, is currently showing at Aratoi. Daniel Real is one of the exhibiting artists, and here he describes his connection to this special community art space……
“I first came to King Street in 2001, then I tried it again in 2009. I used to find it hard to go to places where there are a lot of people, but there is a good atmosphere here and I like that you have the freedom to do whatever you like and don’t have to come or go at any set time.
One day someone bought in a box of old dolls and we started constructing surreal things from them. I decided to do a dinosaur baby, with the body of a T-Rex. I was thinking about how this baby looks about six weeks old and the dinosaurs got wiped out around six million years ago.
With my art, I tend to fall into things by accident. I’ll be busy doing one thing like a painting, but while it’s drying, I’ll start something else.
I usually don’t have any plans or ideas to start with, I just choose something - it might be from a magazine - and start the process. I find that the ideas come from there. I usually don’t worry about rubbing out mistakes, I just work with what’s there.
That’s how my painting ‘Game of Money’ happened. It came together while I was working on it. I think children can enjoy it because it looks like a snakes and ladders game, but it also has other meanings for adults.
At King Street I’ve learnt to let things happen. It’s not going to be perfect, but you learn something with every piece that you do. I’ve put a portrait into the show (‘Portrait of a Woman looking Stern’), which was the first one I’d ever done."
Currently showing at Aratoi: King Street Artworks: 'Mauri Ora', until 12 Oct; ‘Hidden Faces, Hidden Gems’ - Wairarapa Camera Club, until 21 Sept; David Cauchi: 'Memories of the future', until 12 Oct.
‘Baby T-Rex’
’Game of Money’