Jane Kellahan 'Land of the Peacock'

This stunning exhibition by Jane Kellahan ‘The Land of the Peacock’ comprises a series of paintings in which the artist employs the use of masks and birds as symbols through which to explore themes of masculinity, courtship, relationships and identity. The artist uses these symbols in order to engage with ideas of ‘peacocking’, which references the occurrence in nature where male peacocks use their colourful plumage in order to attract a mate. Like a male peacock uses his feathers to attract a mate, ‘peacocking’ involves using a man’s clothing and adapting his behavious in a flashy manner, for the purpose of attracting a mate. Using this as her starting point she has used bird and human forms together to expand ideas around courtship rituals.

Kellahan also uses the symbol of the mask to highlight the ways people present themselves in certain situations – to hide particular aspects of themselves in their interaction with others.
The works in this exhibition are painted in Kellahan’s recognisable style. She manipulates scale, textures and tonal variety to achieve strong works imbued with light and potency. The artist has created works on canvas, paper and wood which consist of many layers of oil paint with a focus on form and colour. The paint has been worked and re-worked, resulting in physically rich paintings with resonant depth.

Kellahan is an internationally exhibited artist. In 2011 she was selected to represent New Zealand at the Biennale of Chianciano in Italy and won 3rd place in the Leonardo Prize (works on paper category). In 2009 she won the trans-Tasman Cricket Art Prize in Australia and was a finalist again in 2011. She has exhibited at the Florence Biennale in Italy, and her work featured in Denis Robinson's book, 'New Zealand's Favourite Artists'.

Predominantly self-taught, she attended courses at Central St Martins and Camberwell College of Arts in London. Her work was selected by the Royal Academy of Arts, London in 2000.
‘Land of the Peacock’ will be on show at the Parnell Gallery 17 – 29 July.