No Straight Lines: Evan Woodruffe

Available Monday, 1 May to Friday, 14 July

Evan Woodruffe is a long-standing supporter of the visual arts, not only as an artist, but as a collector, sponsor, teacher, and advocate. His works are a vibrant mix of contrasting layers which explore the natural world from a place of personal experience. Using paint, and other media, Woodruffe’s work possesses a fluidity and richness which draws the viewer into unexpected worlds of abstract explosions, where relationships between colour, pattern and texture collide.

In our daily lives we all constantly encounter change, from small incidental moments to larger, life-changing events. Woodruffe’s work is a response to life’s journeys - colours clash, blend, misbehave and challenge, creating unforeseen relationships which combine with texture and pattern to create visually exciting artworks.

In this programme, we will see and discuss how Woodruffe uses colour, pattern, and texture to explore emotional responses to our everyday lives. We will then discuss how these are used and what they represent in the community and as individuals. Ākonga will create narratives based on their experiences and how they relate to the world around them. Celebrating te taiao, in a hands-on workshop, they will use colour, mark-making and stencils to create abstract mixed media images which explore and express their worlds.

Key themes: Creativity, pūrākau, environment, whakapapa, visual literacy, lived experience

Primary, Intermediate, Secondary: Years 1 - 13
Cost: Free
Duration: 75 to 90 minutes
Subject areas: Visual Arts, Social Sciences, Technology