Land, sea and sky still dominate Simon Kaans new works, but the familiar waka shape that we are used to seeing in his works are replaced by moth, waterfalls and rainbows. The spaces are fragmented by floating, indeterminate horizon lines, which create a sense of rhythm and movement.
Simon Kaan is of Chinese, Ngai Tahu and Pakeha ancestry. He graduated with a Diploma of Fine Art majoring in Printmaking at Otago Polytechnic in 1993 and has exhibited widely in New Zealand in both public and dealer galleries. In 2004 Simon Kaan undertook the Red Gate Gallery Residency in Beijing with the support of Creative New Zealand. Recently he has been included in Warwick Brown’s book ‘Seen this Century: 100 Contemporary New Zealand Artists – A Collector’s Guide’ published by Random House.
Biography
Ōtepoti/Dunedin based Artist (Ngāi Tahi)
Education
1993
Diplioma of Fine Arts (Hons), Otago Polytechnic
Exhibitions (selected)
2019
Tuaki, Solander Gallery, Wellington
2018
Tio, Sanderson Gallery, Auckland
New Works, Solander Gallery, Wellington
2017
New Works, Sanderson Gallery, Auckland
2016
Black Cloud, Sanderson Gallery, Auckland
2015
New Work, Sanderson Gallery, Auckland
2013
Ara, Sanderson Gallery, Auckland
Te ho te whenua – The breath of the land, Corban Estate Arts Centre, Auckand
2012
Kaihaukai, International Symposium on Electronic Arts, IAIA, Sante Fe, USA
2011
Pouwhenua ProjectI, The Festival of Colour, Wanaka
2010
The Asian, Blue Oyster Project Space, Dunedin
2008
The Maui Dynasty, The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu, Nelson
2006
Learning from the Knee, Burringa Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2005
Instant Kiwi, Rear Window, Dunedin Public Art Gallery
2003
Ka Wakatipuraka, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
Public Collections
Carving design for Te Waipounamu, Maori Select Committee Rooms
Parliament, Wellington
The James Wallace Arts Trust, Auckland
The University of Waikato, Hamilton
Lincoln University Art Collection
