Helen Parsons - Out With the Bathwater

South Auckland painter Helen Parsons presents a solo exhibition at the Blue Orange Gallery in Tuakau to highlight high fuel prices and New Zealand law restrictions.

She has sought to highlight conservation issues regarding New Zealand’s endangered native birds and also problems facing society today.

“Development and progress is important in all areas of life - today's society gets caught up within the ‘I Want it and I want it now’ scenario. Fast food, quick fixes, virtual realities, the need to have more, bigger, better means success,” she says.

Parsons makes a parallel – often with a twist of humour - between the cause of societal problems and behavioural aspects of critically endangered native animals. The plight of threatened native species also highlights the affects of people’s actions in society.

A number of paintings reflect on the change in laws for public land. “In many places we can no longer light bonfires on the beach or set up a fire to heat the billy or cook sausages,” Parsons said.

“One of my works points to the fact we can’t have a beer or wine on the beach or in public places. Another painting is about the rising prices for fuel - may have to step back in time eventually and use Shank's pony as the average person will not be able to afford to run a car. It’s sad the way some things are changing.”

Parsons is one of the rising stars in New Zealand art and has had some experiences in life that has given her a passion for her art. She still paints today at the family kitchen table. After earning a degree majoring in zoology and maths, she is now married with four children, including identical twins, and is expressing her ideas and feelings in her paintings.

Her month-long solo exhibition opens at the Blue Orange Contemporary NZ Art Gallery in Tuakau on November 1.