Living Water by Niamh Bentley

“Living Water” presents a series of watercolour, ink, and pen works are inspired by Niamhs’ experience and healing journey through Cyclone Gabrielle. In February 2023, Niamh, her family, and their neighbours were forced to swim to safety as the Puketapu and Fernhill rivers overflowed their banks, devastating their homes and livestock. Despite the catastrophic losses, their lives were spared.

In this exhibition, Niamh transforms her personal tragedy into a powerful artistic statement. Each piece captures the transformative journey from devastation to hope. The watercolour ink in her paintings symbolises the uncontrollable forces of life—those elements we must navigate without certainty. Contrastingly, the pointillism work with pen in her art represent the aspects of life we can influence and shape.

The initial chaos and disorder seen in her works give way to a more ordered and profound beauty when viewed as a whole. This transition reflects Niamh’s own path from experiencing the raw turbulence of the cyclone to finding a sense of peace and renewal. Through “Living Water,” viewers are invited to witness how the messiness of life’s challenges can ultimately yield to clarity and hope.

“Living Water” is more than a reflection on personal struggle; it is a celebration of people’s ability to find and cultivate hope amidst adversity. Join us in experiencing this moving collection that embodies the journey from the dirty silt of despair to the clean, living waters of renewal.