15 October - 19 November 2022

With sweet and simple intention, each artist in the Daisy Chain Collective creates work inspired by nature. Collective artists include Caroline Faigan, Ophelia af m Jones, Benedict Maurice, Hannah Maurice and Tanja McMillan.

Hannah (Melville) Maurice is a painter and ceramiste, she studied at Elam, COFA and St Quentin la Poterie. Overseas for many years, she now lives and creates in Aotearoa with her husband Benedict, onboard their studio sailboat HONEYMOON. Hannah's work for Daisy Chain | Bunch includes painting and multimedia pieces. These works are part of her ongoing exploration of archetypes - the transformative powers of nature - and the celebration of story informed by folklore, earth energy and human experience. In the first iteration of Daisy Chain, Hannah was exploring green otherness the notion of non-human sentience and the idea of faery realms which intertwine with our cultural experience of the daisy. For Daisy Chain | Bunch, her painting and multimedia work references antique story and romantic narrative threads relating to deities and earth spirits. Hannah's work is informed by nature, animals, plants and fungi - all have a place in her lush visual language. Her figurative works are potently female and the psychological and physical construction of the female figure is central to her practice.

Caroline Faigan is an artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. She works in collage, painting, sculpture and installation. Though often appearing minimal and monochromatic, Caroline’s work explores narrative, symbolism and subjectivity, frequently referencing the human body. Caroline graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland in 2019 where her research project explored the character Lilith from Hebrew mythology. The work, Paradise, included in Daisy Chain | Bunch, is the first in this series of works that were influenced by theologist Judith Plaskow’s 2005 text The Coming of Lilith. Plaskow re-tells Lilith’s biblical story of origin from Genesis I, as a being created from the earth. Plaskow connects Lilith with pre-monotheistic mythology, celebrating an alignment of the body with nature and earth. These collages depict splices of femininity, fruit and foliage alternating with the stripe, historically the symbol of otherness and the outcast.

Ophelia af m Jones is an artist from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Drawn to moments of everyday encounter and intimate gesture her multidisciplinary practice includes photography, painting and sculpture.

Tanja McMillan's work references the daisy chain and underscores the magic of friendship, symbiotic relationships and the infinite network of nature on all levels. Her playful paper chains engage our imaginations and memories whilst commenting on the link that bind all life and earthly energiesanja's contribution to this iteration of Daisy Chain Bunch, is a colourful and delicate installation of paper and colour, bringing to mind the petals of flowers and the ephemeral yet enduringly nature of the daisy. Tanja McMillan (Misery) is a much loved New Zealand contemporary artist, her unique and magical style can be seen and enjoyed in her many public art works and collaborations. The animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms are ever present in the work of this nature loving artist. Tanja exhibits regularly in Aotearoa and overseas.

The starting point for Benedict Maurice's work in Daisy Chain | Bunch is a memory of being taught and trying to make daisy chains as a small child - the difficulty of splitting the stems with his fat little fingers and the concentration and dexterity needed for this delicate task. The crowns that have evolved from his initial DAISY CROWN are created and informed by notions of natural decay and materiality, the transformation of energy, and the absolute sovereignty of nature itself. Made from a variety of recycled and found materials, leaves and shells are elevated to jewel status. Through his work Benedict lets us reassess our ideas around what is precious and beautiful, and helps us reflect on the transience of physicality. A design graduate from Unitec, Tāmaki Makaurau, Benedict was Sydneyside as a designer and maker for many years, he now lives and creates with his wife Hannah on their boat HONEYMOON as part of @honeymoonseastudio on the waters of Aotearoa.

Download the exhibition catalogue here