Mike Nettmann

About the work below:

230 countries have been represented in this installation of 36 paintings.Each painting has 6 or 7 country names within the work. The names were chosen at random.The colours are mostly mixed from a limited palette using a ‘red’, a ‘blue’ and a ‘yellow and black and white. Where some of the stencilled letters have overlapped I have chosen primary red, blue and yellow; green; white and black – colours used in all flags of the world — to fill the arbitrary shapes formed. The paint is acrylic and black and white gesso. For the line work a Faber-Castell artist pen and a Staedtler Chinagraph pencil was used. The small circle with a line through the centre is a symbol for the earth and a symbol for peace.Included above the white ‘horizon’ line is a torn strip from a National Geographic magazine photograph.

Installation in Kaan Zamaan

Michael was born in South Africa and immigrated to New Zealand in 1980. He lives in Kerikeri.

Michael has worked in the arts as a professional pianist, touring Southern Africa, Europe and Australia before settling in New Zealand.

For a time he worked as a graphic artist and has always been interested in the visual arts generally. In 2005 he was accepted by Whitecliffe School of Fine Arts to study for a Master of Fine Arts degree. He has illustrated a book on the flora and marine life in the Bay of Islands and regularly exhibits solo and in various group shows.

As a jazz pianist Michael approaches music and art in a similar way, exploring textures, patterns, rhythms, harmony and colour in both disciplines.

His paintings are in corporate and private collections worldwide.

Mike’s new exhibition with Keri Molloy , features a stunning installation entitled “EARTHSONG”.

There are also ten new A3 works on paper in this exhibition, available unframed, framed or as a reproduction.