Sara Hughes awarded Berlin Visual Art Residency

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MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 6 August 2008

Sara Hughes awarded Creative New Zealand Berlin Visual Artists Residency 2008/09

New Zealand artist Sara Hughes is the recipient of the 2008/09 Creative New Zealand Berlin Visual Artists Residency at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin. The biennial 12-month residency provides an opportunity for visual artists to work on their approved project, gain professional development, build international networks and generally increase awareness of New Zealand visual arts.

Excited to be offered the opportunity, Sara Hughes says she will use the residency to create a new body of work.

"I am interested in developing a project that examines the cultural and political context of the Olympics with specific reference to the Beijing Games (2008) and the Berlin Games (1937). I specifically want to investigate imagery and data relating to patterns of behaviour and configurations of spectacle and national identity as portrayed through the use of colour, consumerism and propaganda".

"The Berlin Residency is a great opportunity for visual artists to dedicate twelve months on the development of their practice. Berlin is a creative hub that presents lots of opportunities. I am sure Sara Hughes will use the residency to build on her impressive career to date and that Berlin is an ideal environment for the development of her chosen project", said Stephen Wainwright, Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand

Sara Hughes is an Auckland based artist who has exhibited extensively since graduating with an MFA from Elam School of Fine Arts in 2001. Her work has attracted significant attention winning both the Wallace Art Award and the Norsewear Art Award in 2005 and more recently she was the first New Zealand recipient of The RIPE: Art and Australia/ANZ Private Bank Contemporary Art Award (2008). She is currently working on a major new commission for the 'Glasshouse' project; a new site specific installation for the lobby of the Christchurch City Art Gallery, curated by Justin Paton. Sara Hughes is represented by Gow Langsford Gallery in Auckland.

Previous New Zealand recipients of the Creative New Zealand residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien are Peter Robinson (2000), Michael Stevenson (2002), Ronnie van Hout (2004) and Mladen Bizumic (2006).

The Berlin residency is one of a number of international artist residencies offered by Creative New Zealand to provide opportunities for New Zealand artists to develop their practice and build international networks.

More information on Sara Hughes can be found on her website www.sarahughes.co.nz

ENDS

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