Sofia Minson at The Kete Aronui Experience
Sofia Minson, Artist
Sofia Minson is a New Zealand artist who has a flair for celebrating the spirit of people, culture and nature through painting.
Born in Auckland in 1984, Sofia spent much of her childhood in Samoa, Sri Lanka and China and developed a strong appreciation for richly diverse cultures. On returning to New Zealand her artistic enthusiasm flourished and she used this to connect with her homeland as she had other parts of the world.
Her bold yet finely detailed oil paintings are inspired by her deep respect for the land and myths of Aotearoa (New Zealand). By exploring the ancient people and legends from a contemporary perspective, Sofia discovers and strengthens an important link with her own Maori (Ngati Porou) heritage.
In the past four years Sofia has exhibited in Europe, Turkey, New York and extensively throughout New Zealand. She has won two national art awards, graduated with an Art and Design degree and featured in numerous media publications. The artist now enjoys painting full-time in Auckland and looks forward to participating in upcoming national and international artistic endeavors.
See more about Sofia Minson here
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Kete AronuiKETE ARONUI
From music, carvers, performers, weavers, painters, sculptors, filmmakers, theatre and multimedia, KETE ARONUI is at the heart of indigenous art. A series of 1/2 hour programmes featuring on Maori Television, KETE ARONUI will also have a major presence at Atamira | Maori in the city, as the ‘Kete Aronui Experience’.
This distinctive exhibition will feature the works of some of Aotearoa's most relevant, rising and recognized contemporary Artists. An inspiring collective that combined embodies a vibrant, powerful and thought-provoking sense of awe, passion, culture and identity. At the same time offering an insight into what Maori art looks and feels like in the 21st century while capturing an essence of where Aotearoa art is heading in the future.
‘The Kete Aronui Experience’ is proud to be showcasing a significant group of artists that represent a variation of styles, mediums and forms. Illustrious Painters Rueben Paterson, Sofia Minson, Jamie Boynton, Peata Larkin, Jon Tootill, Darryn George and Nigel Borell will be exhibiting. Alongside Diva Jeweler and fiber artist Suzanne Tamaki and Wendy Whitehead; Pop Art Toy maker, Leon Kipa; The internationally renowned photographer Russ Flatt; The creative handiwork that is Rona Osbourne and boundary pushing multimedia artists Shona Rapira Davies and Diane Prince, and many more are to be confirmed.
We will also showcase the dynamic multimedia performance artist Shigeyuki Kihara, who is best known for her photography series Fa’afafine; In a Manner of a Woman, which we are delighted to be exhibiting. These works have been brought by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington.
For the first time ‘The Kete Aronui Experience’ will feature a must see collaboration between stencil artist FLOX and artist Tipene Ryan Smith as they merge their creative talents together to create the beautiful waharoa for both the entry and exit of the space. During the three-day event Mouth Painter and complete C4 tetraplegic Wayne Te Rangi will carry out a live demonstration that will no doubt inspire our audience, and at the end of the three days we will auction his work off and the proceeds will go to the MFPA (Mouth and Foot Painting Association).
‘The Kete Aronui Experience’ is situated in the heart of pavilion three. It is created by Maori and tailor made for a Maori audience. The space will be open from 10 – 4pm Friday the 3rd – Sunday the 5th of July.
