'Say It With Flowers.....'

'Say It With Flowers.....' New Merchandise At City Gallery Wellington

Fancy a large Michael Parekowhai bouquet on your wall? A poster of his eye-catching work Calais is now available, along with other merchandise based on Telecom Prospect 2001 artworks.

Parekowhai is one of New Zealand's leading younger Maori artists. Calais is part of his series of photographs of floral arrangements called The Consolation of Philosophy Piko nei te matenga: when our heads are bowed with woe, currently featured in the exhibition. Also on sale is a range of books and catalogues by featured artists, and notecards featuring works by Fiona Pardington, Ross T Smith, Laurence Aberhart, Natalie Robertson, Hannah & Aaron Beehre, John Pule, Séraphine Pick and Sean Kerr.

Michael Parekowhai began training as a florist after leaving school, and floral art is a hobby pursued with passion by his mother. His sister Cushla Parekowhai comments: "The titles of these works all refer to places in France and Flanders where the Pioneer Mäori Battalion made a contribution in World War I. During the Great War most Mäori soldiers were not conscripted into the army but 'volunteered' for military service..... Our family name 'Pare-kowhai' literally means 'Garland of yellow' (kowhai of course) and was won for us by a great warrior, who was as much a conqueror in the field of love, as he was a conqueror in the field of war. In this work the ability to express a sensitivity to, and a respect for, 'flowers', is seen as a staunch affirmation of manliness made only by true sons and grandsons of 'real' men." Poster (unframed) - $10. Notecards - $3.50 each or $25 for a pack of eight.

Principal Sponsor: City Gallery Wellington Foundation Principal Corporate Benefactor Telecom New Zealand. Generously supported by: The Dominion; The Evening Post; Saatchi & Saatchi. City Gallery Wellington is managed by the Wellington Museums Trust with major funding from the Wellington City Council.

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