Hotel Off The Square

Hotel off the Square is home to many striking and meaningful pieces of art work.When entering the 1^st floor of the hotel, you are greeted by a large traditional Maori man, seated on a feather cloak, with a stunning Pakeha woman perched upon his lap…..Painted on a 1783mm. x 1460 mm. canvas.Paul Jackson is the artist and creator of this breath-taking piece, “Lovers of Diaspora.”
Jackson has an impressive list in the galleries scattered throughout New Zealand and Australia that display his work, as well as exhibition awards he has placed in. One of them being the Archibald Prize Winner, People Choice Award 2006. And we are lucky to have such a remarkable piece in our Hotel. Being born in Auckland 1950, he grew up learning the difficulties and relationships between Maori and Pakeha. He has used his talent with a paint brush to show others his view! The result being the “Lovers of Diaspora.”In this singular image Jackson succeeds in conveying a long held belief that the difficulties between races are best dealt with when challenged by new voices and ideas.The figures are not real persons, so can give no knowing offence. His aim to give the perception of the female looking like a mannequin, and the male looking almost as if he is a ghostly figure.

This piece is very moving, not only from the clear message it portrays, the differences between races and use of traditional Maori items, it is also painted with such fine detail on a large scale and really is a feature of Hotel off the Square.

Hotel Off The Square features work by Alan Brydon. Here are some notes about him Alan Brydon – Photographer

Alan, born and educated in Scotland, made his home in New Zealand several decades ago. His lifetime involvement with photography preceded his veterinary clinical career and has gained an increasing role to become the dominant presence in his life path.

His photographic genre is fine art, expressing the human body as sculptural form and employing a poetic eye to create a spectrum of images ranging from organic abstraction and minimalist gesture to fantasy bodyscapes. His perspective on life acknowledges our humanity and an awareness that for a while we get to use the body as a vehicle, amazing in its form and function, exquisitely sensual yet so vulnerable to age and injury.

Alan’s artistic images have been well received at exhibition in New Zealand and Australia resulting in sales to private collections in USA, Canada, Thailand, Malta, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Examples of his work can be found on his website: www.alanbrydon.com