Stan Walker

Original painting SOLD, oil on canvas, 910 x 505mm, 2012

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Print sizes and editions (limited to 275)

• Regular museum archival paper print - 550 x 305mm

Your unique limited edition fine art print

1. Sofia Minson creates your exclusive signed print
2. We ship for $25 in NZ and from $50 internationally
3. Your artwork arrives rolled, ready to be framed - do you need help? Request framing guidance
   
   

The story of Stan Walker

Stan Walker (Tuhoe, Ngati Ranginui, born 1990) grew up on a marae in Mount Maunganui. He had a rough childhood, which he has compared to the 1994 Once Were Warriors film.  Walker's parents were drug dealers and have both spent time in jail, he got involved in drugs and thieving himself and was sexually abused by a relative. After several violent episodes his family moved to Queensland and being inspired by his passion for music and church, Walker went on to win Australian Idol in 2009.  Since then his music career has gone from strength to strength with number one hit singles and three albums under his belt.  

An embodiment of strength and resilience

Minson is a fan "I admire his resilience, spirit and voice, plus I feel a sense of pride that he's a talented Maori making a success of himself on the international stage." Minson says she is "interested in painting creative and inspiring Maori people who are helping to evolve today's culture through their own art forms or roles in society." 

Reclaiming the Māori gaze

Since 19th century New Zealand artists such as Lindauer and Goldie, there has been a surprising lack in the tradition of Maori oil portraiture. While Minson is inspired by their works, she says her contemporary Maori portraits "are far from Goldie's recordings of a vanishing race" and are intended to fill an important niche for for her generation.  As a Maori artist of mixed heritage (Ngati Porou, Swedish and Irish) she uses the traditional Western medium of oil on canvas to show contemporary Maori as a vibrant and evolving people.

This painting was part of Minson's 2012 solo exhibition at Parnell Gallery. Watch this Maori Television feature on the show:

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