Covid-19 is teaching us to expect the unexpected. While artists and galleries braced themselves for impact as the pandemic unfolded in early 2020, with international travel off the cards, New Zealanders have sought out a new avenue for escapism – art.
Parnell Gallery, co-directed by mother and daughter duo, Sally Souness and Anna Silcock, has been operating for over 40 years, specialising in New Zealand paintings, sculpture and limited edition prints. The Covid-19 lockdowns have meant people, particularly Aucklanders, are spending much more time at home, providing greater opportunity to think about how the spaces within our home environment can affect how we feel. Anna explains the inability to travel internationally and a change in priorities has, at least in part, fuelled the surge in art purchases. It appears that in the absence of travel, art is cementing itself as an increasingly popular avenue for escapism.
Interest has been from both existing and new clients, some of whom are simply searching for decorative pieces that bring joy into their homes. However there has also been vast interest in investment pieces, by both the avid collector and those new to the art world who are keen to diversify their investment portfolios.
An ideal opportunity for art enthusiasts to research and purchase has been the annual Auckland Art Fair, New Zealand’s premier showcase for contemporary art, which was forced to shut its doors last year and go online. The 2021 event went ahead as planned in late February and, despite being cut short by a day due to the most recent Auckland lockdown, saw a record numbers of visitors through the door.
Anna says: “While also offering engagement for the seasoned collector, an art fair can be a casual, enjoyable, and welcoming introduction to the world of art, its diverse range of artists and the plethora of top galleries in New Zealand, and from further afield. You can get a good sense for the different galleries and find what resonates with you. Quite simply the idea of walking into a multitude of art galleries to find what you connect with can feel a little daunting, but the art fair format provides a unique opportunity to visit 37 galleries showcasing works by more than 150 artists from around New Zealand, Australia and the Cook Islands, in one central location.”
For Parnell Gallery, Anna says their experience exhibiting at the Auckland Art Fair was extremely positive. They were able to connect with eager new collectors, reunite with a number of the country’s most avid collectors, network with other galleries and in general celebrate the wider art community. At a time when large gatherings can rarely be planned for, it seems only right to come together to celebrate the successes of an industry that had been preparing for quite a different hand to be dealt.
