We have a new post for our Creative Friends Series. This month we are delighted to share with you a little bit about our good friend and talented artist James Harcourt. James is a New Zealand artist that works in a wide range of media, from painting to mask making, sculpture, installation and print.
Can you introduce yourself in a paragraph.
My name is James Harcourt and I am an artist. I practice my art from a studio in Wellington and exhibit fairly frequently. I have used galleries, public and privately owned as well as hiring empty spaces for ‘Pop Up’ shows. If I see an empty shop with lighting and wall space it’s not such a challenge to ring the real estate agent and grab the space for a week or two.
I am a New Zealander . I have for as long as I can remember been making things, objects, puppets and drawing or painting.
Tell us about your background in your art/profession.
I traveled extensively for a number of years when I was young having been an office worker for two years. The experience of other cultures and climates has never left me. I worked as a conservation officer and horticulturalist before finding myself at art school. Since then I have been consistently producing art work heavily relying on nature motifs and the spiritual aspect of conservation preservation.
There is something special that you like about living in Wellington that contributes to your art.
Wellington is such a diverse city. People from all over the world live here adding to the cultural diversity. So many different cultures in such a small city makes it vibrant and a pleasure to be a part of. The intimacy helps on the most part and there is always somewhere quiet nearby for moments of solitude.
What is your main inspiration?
I think my main inspiration comes from the plant kingdom. “In Plants We Trust” is my motto. I have lived in the forest for a couple of years far from people and electricity. I kept bees, chickens had a vege garden and a dog for company. During this period of isolation I relied on natural ebb and flow of light to dark to light and nurtured my painting skills. I painted many landscapes and abstracted works that reflected the the forest the light and the nature of our environment.
What are your future goals in your art/profession for the next year.
In the upcoming year I have plans to expand my ‘Asylum Seekers’ work. This is a collection of masks and costumes that talks to conservation issues and about climate refugees. At the end of the year I will be exhibiting at Pataka with the masks and aiming for more dance performances.
I am also an art hanger and will be continuing to take work in this field.
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You can find more about James on his website: jamesharcourt.co.nz. We hope you enjoy his art as much as we do; thanks so much to James for sharing his experience with us. See you next time.