Symbolica Art Exhibition

Ponsonby’s Pop-Up: The art of high imagination

‘Intrigue and mystery’ are two words that best summarise Symbolica Exhibition at Studio One Toi Tū which opens in March. Coinciding with Auckland Arts Festival, nine artists have joined forces to create a refreshingly innovative pop-up. Expect to get hints of their artistic thinking, however, they are “leaving it up to you” the audience, to find the hidden meanings.

Master minded by Bruce Torkington, the number nine played a significant role in conceptualisation. “This has arrived from the philosophical science of numbers taught by Pythagoras, and Kabbalistic thought in which nine is the circle of completion.”

The nine artists are of diverse ethnicity and professional backgrounds, offering completely different perspectives, media approaches and viewpoints. The common denominator is an interest in the symbolic. “This is not an event where you are going to find pretty pictures of local scenery. It is a space in which to unleash your own imagination and make journeys of discovery into the artworks,” Bruce has said.

“Notions of history have been brought into relevance for 2020, alongside more personal themes which artists have treated symbolically.”

“The line-up of fellow artist adventurers are as follows: Anne Shirley, Bruce Edman, Elsabé Pretorius, Marion Gordon-Flower, Max Grey, Penny Otto, Rod Flower and Ruth Bioletti. Artworks include paintings, sculptures, lightboxes and installation. All are welcome to join us at the opening.