New Release from Lester Hall Artist
Tuesday 10 July 2012, 6:35PM
By Lester Hall
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Lester Hall, Northland based artist tests cultural climate with his latest work Tiki Mouse by blatantly merging Mickey Mouse with one of New Zealand’s most touted cultural icon - Heitiki. Hall's 2004 Ngati Pakeha series of 23 Tiki, launched a cross pollination Buzzy Bee and Tiki to create Halls kiwiana classic Buzzy Bee Tiki.
Halls latest print Tiki Mouse, converges Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse into our NZ icon the Tiki. Mickey Mouse originated in 1928 from the hands of Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. This famous anthropomorphic mouse has now undergone another metamorphosis through the lens of printmaker Lester Hall and merged with one of New Zealand’s most recognised icons the Tiki.
“Tiki Mouse is a nod to Dick Frizzells ubiquitous artwork, Miki to Tiki tu meke, and the recognition that colour and humour make life grand. “ Lester says” Tiki are a cultural icon, Tiki are one of the most trusted Maori emblems and ideas. Tiki Mouse is all sorts of things to me, but mostly it is just fun. I love it.”
Print maker Lester Hall is one of New Zealand’s most exciting contemporary visual artists. Hall’s work is visually striking, intelligent, and strongly political. Maori commentator, Willie Jackson states, “he is a cultural intellectual for NZ”. Hall has a clear message that radiates strongly from his Ngati Pakeha Inks series.
Buzzy Bee Tiki and Kiwiana Tiki are popular throughout New Zealand and are available at www.lesterhall.com