Latest News
6th September 2010
August 2010 News from Dilana
In September, Robyn and Hugh will be in Paris, as Dilana is showing at a Design Fair, Maison+Object et Meuble Paris. The stand will exhibit selected rugs by Bing Dawe, Gavin Chilcott and Tim Main.
Simultaneously a wider collection of six works will open at the Moa Room's newly renovated space located in the Republique Arrondissement.
Darryn George Produces His First Rugs with DilanaWe are delighted to introduce a new series of rugs by Darryn George, prominent Christchurch abstract painter.
Darryn's work blends his Maori (Ngapuhi) heritage with powerful elements of contemporary abstraction and traditional Maori motif.
His images reflect a strong spiritual element, often expressed in the titles of the rugs he develops in collaboration with Dilana.
The series of rug designs was initially drawn from a bookshelf in Darryn’s living room. “I like to take something from the everyday, simplify it and then invest it with spiritual significance, making it part of my personal symbolism. It's a long process, not straightforward," he says.
"With Pohi #6, the slot in the bookshelf suggested a postbox, and the idea of mail, where an object moves from one place to another, as the spirit might move between planes of spirituality." The rug title,Pohi (post or postbox) alludes to this aspect of the work. 
"In Spirit Level#2,the simplified image of the builder's level and the kowhaiwhai togetherrepresent evenness of spirit. Barnett Newman, the American 20th centuryabstract expressionist, painted very simple forms. Speaking about a painting which featured a single line drawn in the centre of the canvas,Newman said something like: 'When you're looking at this, you'll be pointed towards God'.He made big claims for his work." In this series of work, Darryn is creating a connection between the literal world and a spiritual dimension, as Newman did.
There are some new departures from Darryn's current work in this series. “Initially, I was a colourist, then in 2004 decided to restrict my palette to the traditional Maori colourings of red, black and naturalearth. During the making of this series of rugs, I began to expand the palette again, working in ‘regal’ colours such as purple.” Spirit Level# has richly blended areas of black and a purple/blue suggesting streams or rivers.
Darryn worked closely with our director, Hugh Bannerman, and rugmaker Sam Maloney. He says that the process was surprisingly simple. “Sam seesme as a natural rug designer. I found surprisingly little conceptual difference between developing the paintings and the rugs. Sam and Hugh were invaluable in providing suggestions, such as making some areas moresculptural, and experimenting with new blends to enhance colours.” Working closely with Darryn, Sam has formulated a special blend of tonesto produce the ‘Darryn George red’ signature colour seen in this rug series.
Darryn has a busy exhibition schedule as well as being Head of Art at Christ’s College. He will be taking part in the 'Scapes' outdoorexhibition in Christchurch in September, as well as having solo shows at the Brooke Gifford Gallery in Christchurch and the Peter McCleavey Gallery in Wellington later this year.
Visit Darren George's page on our website.
Calendar
- Maison+Object et Meuble Paris September 7-10
- Darryn George rugs on show: Christchurch August-September: 10 Buchan St, Sydenham. Auckland October-November: 40 George St, Mt Eden.
- An exhibition of new sculptural works by Bing Dawe opens at the Arthouse Gallery on the 12th of August.
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Dilana Website Launch
Welcome to our new website! We hope you’ll take the time to have a good look around. Please join our mailing list to get quarterly updates on new rugs, artists’ upcoming exhibitions and more.
Avis Higgs Rug Sparks Designer’s Inventiveness
Guy Homan’s Cut and Sew Lamp in the Quotidian exhibition currently showing at Objectspace in Ponsonby Road draws its inspiration from the that idea we use common objects such as rugs, lamps and furniture to distract ourselves from the environment. One such “distraction” is the Avis Higgs rug D88 Maori Motif, on loan to the exhibition from Dilana Rugs, that he has used as his inspirational object.
The exhibition’s premise is that design is a discourse, and that the everyday can be used as a stimulus for new design. Designers have contributed new ideas, each based on a familiar object. The show runs from 15 May to 26 June.
Hugh and Robyn Bannerman Visit Hawke’s Bay Artists
During May, Robyn and Hugh took advantage of the extended good weather and visited some of our artists in Hawke’s Bay.
The Bannermans, Dick Frizzell, Fane Flaws, Jo Blogg and Martin Popplewell had a great time chatting over drinks on Saturday evening, followed by a tour of the artist’s studios the next day.
Martin’s new studio was in the process of construction — he expects it to be open in August.
Fane and Jo made the sculpture between them entirely of local grapevines.
Don Peebles — a Great Mentor, and a Great Friend
It is with sorrow that we note the passing of Don Peebles in March.
Don’s role as mentor to Hugh Bannerman was enormously helpful to the success of the business, but it will be as a friend that he will be the most missed.
Visiting European Architects and Designers
Dilana Rugs recently hosted a visit from a group of architects and designers studying the wool industry in New Zealand as part of a project to develop a concept hotel incorporating wool.
The 13 top architects — from the US, Germany, Japan, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark — were joined by a New Zealand architect to take part in a challenge to design a concept hotel complex, which would incorporate wool in every possible respect.
Conceived by German-based AIT Online architecture magazine, the project was hosted by the National Council of New Zealand Wool Interests, with the aim of promoting wool as a sustainable, versatile material.
National Council chairman Stephen Fookes said the project’s aim was to bring wool back into the architecture and design industry’s awareness or “re-introduce it as an interior textile, create awareness and increase the demand of New Zealand wool as an interior textile not only into existing areas where it traditionally fits but new areas as well”.
Many of the architects had little knowledge of wool as a medium. Their visit to Dilana Rugs included an intimate look at the workshop and a chance to see the making of rugs commissioned specially for them by New Zealand Wool Services.
Michael Reed Takes His Dilana Runner to the USA
Michael Reed has recently returned from the USA after taking part in the Artists Go to War exhibition, held at the private Quaker Swarthmore College, Philadelphia. The various pieces shown were on an anti-war theme.
Works included the Dilana Rugs carpet runner, “Runner for Corridors of Power, Right, Might, and Profit”; several satirical medallions with titles such as “Good Grunt”; a series of 16 hand-printed bandages (“Business as Usual”); and a hand-printed limited edition book, “StillKill”.
