NZ artist wins event in Rome from more than 1000 artists
January 26, 2014
A New Zealand artist, Kaikoura’s Ruth Stirnimann, has won an international art competition in Rome for her symbolic
abstract work on the Christchurch earthquakes.
The event La Tua Arte Nel Sociale was launched by the Italian gallery il Collezionista and Stirnimann was named the
winner out of 1050 international artists.
Her winning work, called Earth Grid 4 was dedicated to Christchurch and the painting is currently hanging in the gallery
in Rome.
``This is a great honour to receive this award but it is also special for Christchurch and New Zealand,’’ Stirnimann
says.
``This painting is a humble contribution to console the pain that 2010 and 2011 disasters caused. It aims to send
energy, structure, strength and consolation to the city of Christchurch and its entire people.
``New form and patterns flowing strongly from all 4 corners of the painting into the centre, helping and supporting new
ideas for the rebuild and mainly giving strength to people, warmth and even joy in these challenging times.
``Through the many colours and lines overlap, it creates inner power and innovative ideas, light and love, compassion
and joy, filled with life and new hope for a colourful, new city, new peace and stillness within the town and the
people.
``I hope to show this work in other exhibitions in Italy and Germany this year, unless it is sold before then.’’
See a video clip of the exhibition on YouTube:
Stirnimann says winning the event was a huge compliment and honour for her art and her career and her deep commitment to
her style of painting.
``To succeed in Rome will open more doors. My art is really becoming internationally more and more renowned which gives
me a huge amount of satisfaction.
``I just hope that this prize, which I won for my compassion to Christchurch, will demonstrate the value of my work art
in New Zealand and will bring further sales and results for me.
``But I am now focused on completing all the international demands and offers on my works. I now receive regular
invitations from galleries all over the world which I have to decline so that I do not become over-committed.
My painting process still needs that peacefulness and stillness within me to create great works.’’
Last year, Stirnimann entered exhibitions and art fairs in Rome, Helsinki, Milan, Basel, Berlin as well as works in
Christchurch, Cheviot at Passione in Kaikoura.
Her works this year will be seen at the 10th Biennale in Rome, a group exhibition in Vienna next month, New York,
Berlin, France and Germany.
The New York show is part of international artists displaying for the soccer World Cup in Brazil, followed by an
exhibition in Brazil.
Her work has been featured in a number of international publications and she will be seen in four new international art
books this year.
ENDS