Natural Histories August
Mark Wooller has become known for his richly detailed and semi-surrealist oil paintings depicting local landscapes. Each piece is layered with historic ephemera, documentation and text references which enrich the narrative of the painting.
Wooller has released new paintings that focus on central Auckland, documenting areas around the Waitemata Harbour, Auckland CBD, Parnell, Mt Eden and more.
One particularly captivating canvas for seafarers is Auckland Anniversary Regatta, an exploration of the event that has taken place since 1840 and has grown to become one of the largest single day regattas and one of the oldest sporting events in New Zealand. Wooller populates his scene with both waka and yachts, nodding to the many cultural and political histories associated with Tāmaki Makaurau’s waterways. The landforms are depicted as untouched and cloaked in dense primeval foliage, a reference to Auckland’s beginnings.
Pictured image: “Proposed Design Plan 4”, Oil on Canvas, 900 x 900mm (cropped)
