Kate Beatty
Karearea – Bold, assertive guardian of our Whakapapa (ancestry) $4,500 Status: Sold
Swan – Messenger from the heavens to pass down wisdom from our Whakapapa $4,500 Status: Sold
Ruru – the watchful guardian of Whakapapa $2,200 Status: Sold
Tui – Messenger of Matau $2,200 Status: Available
Kea – Messenger of Pikorua $2,200 Status: Sold
Kereru – Messenger of Koru $2,200 Status: Available
Bellbird on Hand $2,200 Status: Available
Two Huias Perched on a Branch $4,500 Status: Sold
Kokako $1,850 Status: Sold
Kea $1,850 Status: Sold
Peacock $4,900 Status: Sold
White Heron – Kotuku $1,850 Status: Available
Kotare Perched On A Post $1,850 Status: Sold
Mischievous New Zealand Little Owl $2,200 Status: Sold
New Zealand Falcon – Karearea $1,850 Status: Available
Kate’s most recent body of work has been inspired by her research into Maori bird legends.
Her intention behind these paintings is to display the mana behind maori symbolism and NZ birds.
The depicted environment is made up of multiple lines and dots created from multiple viewpoints to create a vortex in which the birds and maori symbol connect to enhance the mana and meaning of Maori bird legend and symbolism.
Similar to Maori legends these depicted birds (Nga manu) are represented as messengers from the Gods of the heavens. The birds receive the mana and matauranga (wisdom) of the Koru (representing rebirth, growth and regeneration), Pikorua ( representing the path of life , loyalty and a symbol of a strong bond between two loved ones) and Matau (representing prosperity and safe travels over water) which is relayed back down to us on earth.
Kate has worked with the subject matter of NZ birds and flora since her studies back at the School of Fine Arts. She graduated in 2014 with a major in painting.
Kate also paints portraits of NZ birds within a wallpaper-esque background. These portraits are a depicted interpretation of the individual birds’ personality and characteristics.
Colour harmony and colour saturation is a great interest of Kates and she uses this in the way to exaggerate certain physical characteristics of the birds. She also plays with the colour harmony between the depicted bird and wallpaper-esque backdrop which unifies the work and creates an inviting aesthetic.
The flora patterning effect is layered in a way that Kate pushes some of the pattern into the background by painting over the image; some is painted into the mid-ground and then painted in more detail bringing it into the fore-ground. This gives a visual push pull effect which creates a complimentary yet uncanny environment in which the NZ bird/birds are posed.
