Iona Matheson: 'Symbiosis' - Exhibition Opening

Symbiosis: living arrangements between members of two different species.

This recent work is influenced by a fascination of the interwoven relationships between flora and fauna within our natural environment revealing their fragility and interconnectedness. This series of work has textural layers of embedded leaves, evocative of this land, decorated with shimmering colours preserved in shellac and ceramic glazes. Priority always given to working with recycled/reclaimed media such as paper clay and pulps combining native and exotic plant specimens which have been gathered by sustainable practices.

Iona lives in Anawhata and Piha which provided inspiration for this latest collection of mythological birds and plant specimens.
Iona has extensively exhibited her work and managed several large-scale sculptural projects in Waitakere city including Moa Mountain at the Massey Leisure Centre, Project Twin Stream sculpture, Te Herenga Tangata in Ranui and was the lead artist for the New Lynn Library. Her work often depicts tensions between exotic and native flora and fauna. Iona originally trained in ceramics and fibre at Unitec and graduated from AUT in 2013 obtaining a PG diploma in Art and Design. She has a comprehensive background teaching art and currently manages Art Education at Te Uru in Titirangi.