Motoko Kikkawa: Engine in Nature
17 May – 7 June 2021
Motoko Kikkawa: Engine in Nature
Engine in Nature
When I came to Dunedin, a few people took me to the Albatross Colony and I was very fascinated by the seaweed under the cliff, I felt a strong energy of life. I thought, I have to do something with Seaweed! It hit me with a very strong emotional reaction.
I started seeing washed up kelp at a few beaches in Dunedin. When I see the complicated but beautiful tangles, I see in their shape that they copy and show how life goes.
I took some home, washed and dried it, painted it and put in an art gallery six years ago, and after a few days the gallery said it smelled too bad and I had to take it out.
I decided to wait until the smell left to show people - and the time is now.
For a long time, I couldn’t decide which colour to paint it - each colour has meaning.
The colour I chose isn’t normally seen in nature, so it allows us to concentrate on the shape, rather than the kelp material.
When I painted the metallic colour, the kelp suddenly gained more power, like an engine.
White Box
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Dunedin Fringe's mission is to provide platforms for creative expression that help nurture communities. We produce the Dunedin Fringe Festival, Amped Music Project and New Zealand Young Writers Festival annually, curate the White Box Gallery, and manage performing arts venue Te Whare o Rukutia and the Dunedin Community Gallery.
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