Something Human by Mathew Johnson and Ila-Rose Hepetema
Presented by: The Incubator Creative Hub
Their works provoke, resist, and explode, each piece igniting the next until the gallery becomes a chain reaction of ideas.
This is a rare collision of two singular creative forces, an eclipse that exists for only a fleeting moment before the orbit shifts again. Once these works scatter back into their own trajectories, this constellation will not gather in quite the same way again.
This is an exhibition that does not ask for your attention. It seizes it, burrows into it, and leaves carrying a piece of you with it.
To create is to let the soul speak. Play. Create. Express. Connect.
Ila-Rose Hepetema, a Bay of Plenty Māori artist, brings vibrant energy to every canvas through her stunning oil paintings and portraiture. With a lifelong passion for colour theory and composition, Ila-Rose’s work celebrates saturation and vibrancy in bold, captivating ways. After honing her craft studying contemporary Māori art at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, she’s now building her career as a professional artist, taking portrait commissions and creating striking works that reimagine Aotearoa’s fauna with modern kōwhaiwhai.
Mathew Johnson | Abmon Photos is, by all accounts, a fountain of creative energy. Initially dabbling in photography as a means to create raw material for digital art, his camera quickly became an all-consuming passion. Mathew’s work seeks authenticity as he explores the human experience. Each frame is a cultural snapshot, a story for us to explore and connect with from our own unique perspectives. Mathew also offers event photography, written word, mentoring, and digital art services, bringing his creative vision to a variety of projects. His work blends storytelling and artistry to capture meaningful moments and create lasting impressions.
Sponsored by Gate Pa New World.
This exhibition launch preview is Friday 28th August – 5.30pm at The Incubator Creative Hub, The Historic Village, 17th Ave, Tauranga. Licensed Bar onsite, and everyone is welcome.
On display in The Incubator Gallery and Studios from the 29th to the 19th of September. 10am – 3pm.
