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Askew’s “Post Colonial” at Inner State Gallery.

Currently on display at Inner State Gallery in Detroit, Michigan is the brilliant New Zealand based artist Askew’s solo show of absolutely outstanding, brand new paintings entitled “Post Colonial.”

The stunning new work for “Post Colonial” reflects on ideas of how colonialism has shaped and formed New Zealand throughout the years with portraits of the people of New Zealand’s diverse community.  Askew is able to somehow visually define a people’s history by capturing a single glance within each work of vivid beauty.

“There is no doubt that we live in a post-colonial world. In New Zealand this has shaped the reality of roughly the past 200 years. It is impossible to have a discussion around any aspect of life within our region without acknowledging that colonialism is what has driven and stirred the Pacific diaspora. From occupation to settlement, religious influences, wars and their impacts on cultural identity and autonomy, all of this factors into this history,” Askew said from his studio in Auckland, New Zealand.  “To dig back only a few generations, there are so many stories of struggle and great adversity, but also stories of hope, resilience and determination.  I am fascinated with how the ocean connects many historic and cultural narratives, most specifically in a post-colonial context. The people I paint are a reflection of these stories.”

“Post Colonial” is on display until July 9th, 2016.  If you are in the Detroit area this show should absolutely be sought out and visited.  Don’t miss it!

Continue below to see more of Askew’s paintings for the show:

Keep reading

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My completed mural of Suia in Berlin. Suia was the perfect person to paint to tie together Germany & home - possibly the only German born German/Samoan I know living in Berlin, she used to live & study in Auckland back in the day and is a good friend. Stoked to have had this opportunity & time in this awesome city, thanks everyone involved Urban Nation Berlin Just Kids Official & @streetartnews

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Progress shot - working towards June show in Detroit at Innerstate Gallery.

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Progress shot - working towards June show in Detroit at Innerstate Gallery.

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Progress shot - working towards June show in Detroit at Innerstate Gallery.

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Progress shot - working towards June show in Detroit at Innerstate Gallery.

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Double whammy: So excited to share this limited edition reproduction of an original art work I painted for Hollie Smith's new album 'Water or Gold'. It's been so great working with an artist like Hollie who trusted me to try some new things.

Archival Pigment Print on 310 gsm PhotoRag Paper, 400 x 415 mm, Signed and Editioned by Hollie Smith and Askew One, Edition: 100

Click here to check it out.

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Just dropped a new zine on store.askew1.com - 48 Page, A5 size zine including cover. Limited edition of 60. Signed and editioned.

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Kaitiaki, 2016 For Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans, Napier, New Zealand

I thought long & hard about a name for this ‪Sea Walls‬ mural in Napier & one word constantly rang true during the week, it was Kaitiaki - it's the Māori word for guardianship of air, land & sea.

With my mural, I was attempting to address several interrelated issues. I think the deeper I look into issues like ocean conservation I realise that nothing happens in a vacuum. Everything is connected because we live on a planet that is actually a closed system. To allow things to recycle within that system we have to be conscious of consuming more harmoniously with the system as opposed to being so disruptive. I can talk about how we are driving climate change, how it is warming the planet and subsequently causing ocean acidification which is destroying the reefs and their complex ecosystems - what’s harder is to then unpack the myriad of related consequences. Those range from the harm to all the planets creatures, the environment, economics, social and political. I cannot stress this enough - if you strip away all the talk, the political posturing and all the corporate spin, every issue we face as a species relates back to our relationship with this planet. Something that may sound as random or inconsequential to your life as a dead reef in small island nation will have an impact on everyone at some point. This mural is inspired by those thoughts and dedicated to all our neighbouring Pacific island nations, most likely the least contributors to the problem yet on the very frontline of the consequences of climate change. This is not a problem that governments or corporations will ever fix as it is in conflict with their core interests. The responsibility is with all of us to protect and conserve, to care for this earth that sustains us.

Big thanks to Frankie Adams for being the model for this work. A huge thanks to everyone involved in the event, Tre & all the PangeaSeed Foundation, Cinzah & OrganicAsh & Maxine Boag.

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With Aeros, Auckland 2016

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2016

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Finished wall for Discover Bunbury, Western Australia, 2016. Thanks Maddison, Gemma & Mikayla for letting me paint you guys.

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GBAKILLERS - MAD SOCIETY - THE MOS DEF by Askew & Berst http://funk-stars.tumblr.com/

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#doradoggy

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First TMDEES for the year painted with Phat1 & Berst in celebration of the crews 20th anniversary

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I arrived in Mt Maunganui pretty unprepared after flying home from Miami and wasn't sure who I was going to paint. In this situation I tend to let the subject reveal themselves to me so @olivialaita and I took a walk around the shops & cafés on Friday morning, keeping our eyes open in case we spotted someone to photograph. We actually gave up after a while and headed for the car discussing a plan b. We walked past a little café and decided to have one more coffee before heading to the wall. Just as we got served our coffees a girl walked in who was really perfect for this mural - I was trying to be subtle (wasn't that subtle) seeing if Livi agreed, she didn't want to stare too hard out so I had to wait until she'd caught a glance without gawking. We both agreed she'd be great so I approached her. Her name is Maddison, she's local and was actually working on a shoot down the road and walked down to grab coffees for the team. We shot the portrait on the side of the road, the light was harsh but in the end it made the shot, especially the shadows from her eyelashes which is my favourite aspect of this image. Another couple of small coincidences, the wall I was painting is a design store that stocks my studio friend Tim Webber Design furniture and my uncle works 3 days a week in the building the mural faces. A big thanks to Street Prints for doing an awesome job, most relaxing festival ever!