ZARAHN SOUTHON - ARTISTS PROFILE

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McCarthy Gallery has represented Zarahn Tūwharetoa Southon since 2005 and 2023

Zarahn Tūwharetoa Southon is an Auckland based painter of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Samoan and mixed European Jewish descent. On completion of a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1998 Southon had several solo shows and in 2005 he was awarded a Contemporary Pacific Art Scholarship, which funded a trip to study in Florence, Italy. In 2007 he was awarded a scholarship from the classical art school Studio Escalier in the Loire Valley, France. On completion he furthered his studies with the senior lecturer at Studio Escalier and pioneer of Restructured Realism Ted Seth Jacobs in San Francisco. Southon regards these periods of study in Italy, France and America as highly influential on his current practice.

Zarahn is currently the Te Kotahitanga delegate for his hapū of Ngāti Kurauia at Tokaanu marae, Turangi. He holds a diploma in Te Reo Māori and is currently finishing a Te Reo Degree at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Described by an art critic as New Zealand’s own Lucian Freud, Southon explores allegorical themes, portraiture and still life within his personal take on Dutch genre painting. Also apparent are references to contemporary Classical Realism, Restructured Realism and 19th century Realism.

“It takes courage and ambition to go against the grain of fashion. From his earliest exhibitions Zarahn Southon has devoted himself to figure painting, a neglected style of art amid the flood of DVDs, installations and conceptual works… What links these paintings with the Dutch Masters is dexterity in handling paint to convey appearances…It is all based on the accurate observation of individuals..” T. J McNamara

Southon has exhibited regularly at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington. Public institutions holding Southon’s works include the Auckland
City Council and the Wallace Trust Collection at The Arts House Trust Auckland.

2022 Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa board delegate for Ngāti Kurauia ki Tokaanu

2022 Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

2021 Te Rōnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

2020 Te Ara Reo Maori Level 4 diploma, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

2017 Tikanga Marae, Level 4, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

2008 Ted Seth Jacobs, Intensive Portrait Painting Program, B.A.C.A.A, USA

2007 Studio Escalier, Argenton Chateau, France

2006 Sabbatical, Florence, Italy

1998 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Manukau School of Visual Arts

Awards

2012 Salon Finalist - Figurative Category, Art Renewal Center, USA

2007 Waterway Fellowship - Studio Escalier, France

2005 Winner - Martin Hughes Contemporary Pacific Art Scholarship

1995 3rd Place - Student Category Windsor & Newton Painting Competition

1994 Senior Painting Prize - Howick College

1994 Highly Commended - Manukau Youth Art Awards

1993 Highly Commended - Manukau Youth Art Awards

1992 Highly Commended - Manukau Youth Art Awards

Residencies

2009 Artists in Schools - Howick College Art Department, Auckland

2004 Artists in Schools - Howick College Art Department, Auckland

1999 Artist in Residence - Pakuranga Community and Cultural Centre, Auckland

Solo Exhibitions

2016 Interiors - Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland

2014 Tempus - Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland

2008 Studio Works - S.O.C.A Gallery, Auckland

2005 Istoria - Milford Galleries, Auckland

2004 Untitled - Mcpherson Gallery, Auckland

2003 Cimmerii - Milford Galleries, Dunedin

2002 Cameo Project - Te Tuhi The Mark, Auckland

2002 Corpus - Mcpherson Gallery, Auckland

2001 Humanals - Mcpherson Gallery, Auckland

2000 Pintura - Pakuranga Public Gallery, Auckland

Selected Group Exhibitions

2019 Our People, Our Land - ARTIS Gallery, Auckland

2017 Our People, Our Land - Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland

2015 Winter Group Show - Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland

2014 Summer Group Show - Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland

2011 About Face Aspects of Portraiture - Papakura Art Gallery, Auckland

2011 19th & 20th Century Paintings - Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland

2010 National Portrait Competition - Adams Portrait Gallery, Wellington

2010 Wallace Trust Collection - The Pah Homestead, Auckland

2009 Wallace Trust Art Awards - Auckland

2008 National Portrait Competition - Adams Portrait Gallery, Wellington

2007 Summer Show - S.O.C.A Gallery, Auckland

2006 Group Show - The Angel Academy, Florence, Italy

2006 National Portrait Competition - Adams portrait Gallery, Wellington

2005 Ngāti Tūwharetoa Festival - Taupo Community & Cultural Centre

2005 Milford Galleries Stock Show - Milford Galleries, Auckland

2005 B.M.W Awards - B.M.W Show-grounds, Auckland

2004 Portrait of Dorian Grey - S.O.C.A Gallery, Auckland

2004 Wallace Trust Art Awards - Auckland

2004 National Portrait Competition - Adams Portrait Gallery, Wellington

2003 The Art of Social Commentary - Te Tuhi The Mark, Auckland

2003 Overview Figurative Work - Milford Galleries, Dunedin

2002 Wallace Trust Art Awards - Auckland

1997 From Here to There - Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

1996 Six Pack - Polynesian Artists - Taupo Museum of Art and History

Teaching History

2019 – (present) Portrait Painting Tutor - Browne School of Art, Auckland

2019 Artist Talk - Art Spark, Greenbay Community Centre, Auckland

2019 Multimedia Workshops - Kelston Deaf Education Centre, Auckland

2017 – 2019 Portrait Drawing Workshop - Titirangi Community Centre

2010 – (present) Painting & Drawing Private Tuition - Auckland

2017 Portrait Drawing Workshop - Te Uru, Titirangi

2015 Life Painting Workshop - Te Uru, Titirangi

2014 One Month Intensive Painting Workshop - Auckland

2013 One Month Intensive Painting Workshop - Auckland

2005 - 2012 Life Drawing Tutor - School of Art And Design, AUT

2000 - 2010 Life Drawing Tutor - Art Station, Ponsonby

Selected Publications & Reviews

Zarahn Southon, “Grand Battles and untrammelled racism” E-Tangata, June 14,2020

Carly Tawhiao, “Realist painter gets real about learning tikanga’’ Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, 24 May, 2016

TJ McNamara, “At Home with the Dutch Masters” Weekend Herald, November 26, 2016

“Māori artists auction flag designs for charity” Te Ao Māori News, April 7 2015

Edward Hanfling, "About Face: Aspects of Portraiture" Art New Zealand, Winter 2011, p13

Iulia Leilua, Native Affairs Māori T.V Monday 21 October, 2013

T.J. McNamara, "Ingenious Ideas Get the Green Light" NZ Herald, 20 Sep, 2009

"Peninsula Hearts", San Francisco Examiner, February 18th 2009, USA

T.J. McNamara, "Neo Glare from the Deep South", NZ Herald, October 5th 2008

Richard Wolfe, New Zealand Portraits, Penguin NZ 2008, p216-217 (plate 80)

Sandra Gilliam, "Following the Masters", Art New Zealand, Spring 2008, p34-37

"Tips & Pic's directory", New York Art Magazine Website, USA, 2006

Zarahn Southon, "Florentines and Angles", Art News, Spring Edition 2006, p70-71

Zarahn Southon off to Florence' Lifestyle magazine, NZ Herald, 6 Dec, 2005

T.J. McNamara, "Giant Shocks Loaded with Emotion", NZ Herald, October 2005

"Crouching Taniwha, Hidden Heritage", Tu Mai Magazine, October 5th 2005, p12-13

Alex Lovell, "A Kiwi Master", B-guide magazine, Spring Edition 2005, p38-41

T.J. McNamara, "The Galleries: Realism meets Abstract", NZ Herald, December 15th 2004

Charles Tongue, "Young Guns", State of the Arts, May Edition 2004

T.J. McNamara, "Dutch Courage Goes Down A Real Treat", NZ Herald, August 2004

T.J. McNamara, "Place to Dissect the Past", NZ Herald, June 19th 2003

Helen Watson Wright "Master Strokes", Sunday Star Times, September 2003

Richard Dingwall, "Figures in Chiaroscuro", Otago Daily Times, October 9th 2003

Sandra Chesterman, A History of the Life Model in New Zealand Art, Canterbury Press Publications 2002, p121-123

T.J. McNamara, "Between Rock and a Soft Place", NZ Herald, June 16th 2002

John Daly-Peoples, National Bussiness Review, August 3rd 2001

T.J. McNamara, "Outbreak Backs Figure Argument", NZ Herald, July 22nd 2001

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