Opposites Attract

Opening event to be held on Sunday the 22nd of September from 11 am. Come and meet the creative pair that have entrusted us to host this lovely, uplifting, richly coloured, amazingly detailed exhibition - Opposites Attract. This is an exciting must see show we believe you will love.
Julia Fausett and Brian Torrey are artists with very differing styles and mediums, Julia’s bold acrylic paintings are abstract, gestural and emotional while Brian’s incredibly detailed airbrushed renditions of familiar beaches and iconic fauna are so stunningly true-to-life they seem able to transport us directly to that seaside path or wildlife park. These artists - who are partners in life, have joined together in this exhibition to celebrate their individuality and their co-existence. While their work is on the surface opposite, there is undeniable crossover of energy, unity and attraction in the vibrance of colour and joy in creation. Brian’s work exudes his love of wildlife and landscape. His acrylic airbrushed paintings capture the spirit of each animal and place, in careful, painstaking detail. The light-play in the animal’s eyes, coats and feathers vibrate with life.

He expertly captures the quintessential kiwi beachscape and masters the unique to New Zealand hues in his beautiful seascapes. You literally can feel the sand beneath your feet, the sea breeze on your face, the warmth of the sun. He alternates painting on canvas with painting on familiar and iconic, patinaed and life scarred surfaces such as handsaws, dive bottles and old surfboards bringing added connections and commentary to his varied subject matter.Julia’s vibrant paintings display an instinctive passion for colour and the movement of her body and brush is laid bare, gestural sweeps of thick, rich paint are interrupted by expressive scratches, scribbles and line. At a distance you see the bold free +owing slabs and strokes of colour, yet when drawn into the pieces, other layers and subtlety of colour emerge. The marks often reveal under painting, complementary at times and contrasting in places, and ‘always’ with emotion, palpable, stretching the surface of the paint in each piece in its effort to emerge. Come and see here in Whakaaturanga’s own beautiful light and space, how their paintings show their obvious harmony. Julia's colour choices respecting and honouring those same New Zealand hues and light play seen in Brian’s work, bringing this joint exhibition to life.