The BIG Urban Paste-Up of Sofia Minson's Artwork in Newmarket

Artist Component has painted Queeny playing the turntables on the left of the wall. See my Facebook Page for more pictures.

After nine years of painting with oil on canvas and having my work collected and exhibited in galleries around the world, this project marks the beginning of a new 'public art' facet to my work.  I’m excited to see my artwork outside the gallery for the first time and available to the New Zealand public on the streets at such a massive scale.

Similar to the reach of the internet and the way artists are using social media like facebook to share their art, public urban street art can be a powerful platform to change the way we see ourselves.  I’m keen to share, particularly with our young people, examples of inspiring Maori people who, with eyes full of mana and creative energy, are looking outward at the world.

My aim is also to revive the art of Maori portraiture, which has arguably been in limbo since 19th century artists such as Lindauer and Goldie.  My close-up portraits in black and white or sepia tones look at how Maori are developing the culture of their ancestors in a contemporary world through their own art forms such as Ta Moko, music, dance and visual art.