Ex All Black attending Rugby Art Exhibition

07 September 2011

Ex All Black attending Rugby Art Exhibition

Hayden “Hud” Rickit will be amongst a VIP crowd gathering in Levin on Thursday night to celebrate the opening of the Men In Black Charcoal art exhibition. Where rugby and art collide, the extraordinary exhibition features 8 life size human figures (2m x 1.2m) which portray the physicality, strength, ruggedness, “the zone” and heroism of the game rugby.

The exhibition fulfills a long-standing dream for artist Duncan Hill, “I have long been fascinated by our national obsession with sport. I have set out to explore sport and some of its culture through visual media. In particular I am exploring the phenomenon of rugby - our own particular brand of obsession.”

Hill is the great grandson of the colonial artist John Gully, whose early work increasingly influences Duncan's style. While he has exhibited nationally and internationally, Hill is best known for his colourful murals which adorn many public spaces in the Horowhenua region where he lives with his family.

Hill who intends to go global with this unique exhibition says “My intention is to visually present rugby in a new light, while celebrating sport in the range of human activity and achievement”.

Approximately 80 VIP guests will join in the celebration of this truly unique exhibition on Thursday 8th September at 6.00pm at the Horowhenua Arts Centre, 119 Bath Street in Levin.

Guest’s include local Mayor Brendan Duffy, the Hon Nathan Guy, and ex All Black Haydn "Hud" Rickit, who played two tests for the All Blacks - against Scotland in 1981. Rickit, an imposing Waikato forward, outplayed Andy Haden in their 1980 Ranfurly Shield win over Auckland. During his rugby career, he played for clubs in Queensland, Italy, London (for Wasps), and for New Zealand Maori.

The exhibition opens to the public on 9th September, is free to attend and runs through to the 23rd October.

ENDS

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