“Art has such power to communicate and I’m using my work as a visual reminder of what’s going wrong, what’s at stake,” says Matthew Penn from within the black walls of his cavernous Margate studio. “Conservation should be treated as our highest priority, but I don’t think haranguing people works. I’m hoping my art will inspire them to come at it from a place of love and engagement.” We are standing at the centre of the darkened space, next to two trestle tables on which the components of a pair of animal skeletons are meticulously laid out, spotlit from above. The effect is cinematic and ethereal; Penn has cast every bone in crystal glass and the lighting imbues them with an eerie inner glow. We could be behind the scenes of a ghostly museum or in the library of an eccentric Victorian naturalist, but such musings are belied by Penn’s resolutely unpretentious persona, honed in Dover, where he grew up. “Dover makes Margate feel like Chelsea,” he says, laughing.
Shopping local helps boost business this Christmas
11 Dec, 2020 11:00 PM
9 minutes to read
Store manager Joanna Matheson has a range of fair-trade products at her Trade Aid Whangārei shop. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Store manager Joanna Matheson has a range of fair-trade products at her Trade Aid Whangārei shop. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Jenny Ling is the Northern Advocate s feature writer and news reporterjenny.ling@nzme.co.nznorthernadvocat
Coping with the global pandemic this year has shown how important it is to support each other. With 13 sleeps until Christmas, reporter Jenny Ling has some tips for shopping local while making a wider