Painting Our Towns
Words: Pattie Pegler
Images: Wongi Wilson
We caught up with Wongi Wilson, the awesome mural artist who has worked on pieces all over Canterbury, including the Triangle in Ashburton, Twizel and several in Christchurch. We wanted to find out a bit more about what goes into creating a mural and his approach to the art form.
Essence: How do you decide what to paint in different locations?
Wongi: This varies depending on each client's situation, style, thoughts and ideas.
I generally accept the commissions that give me a certain degree of creative freedom but in general clients will either have a solid idea of what they're after, a vague concept or thought of what they're wanting, or they're completely happy for me to have full creative freedom to express myself creating their feature piece/s. Those are often the best commissions!
With this piece in Ashburton the client, Justin from Juice Signs, had a general idea for the portrait but ultimately knew my work and trusted my professionalism to work through the concept and painting processes to create something amazing.
Essence: Have you got any other South Canterbury projects happening?
Wongi: I'm in discussions with a client in Ashburton about a cool wall that's possibly happening.
I'm also collaborating with AJ Hackett for something in Queenstown coming soon which I'm really looking forward to. And another small group in Oamaru are potentially after something too so yes, a few things in the works down South Canterbury way and further.
Last year I finished a beautiful piece in Twizel. On the pool wall, it has two Manaia framing the central gate with photorealistic images of a swimming baby on one side and a portrait of a young woman on the other, flanked by a Kaitiaki eel that flows across the wall.
Essence: How did you get started as a mural artist? What’s the secret of your success?
I always loved art and wanted to be an artist as a kid but to be honest with you my path to becoming a mural artist stemmed from graffiti art.
The quick, vibrant, raw transformative nature of the artform originally drew me in but it's also an artform generally done at a larger scale, which lends itself to mural works quite easily.
I feel the 'secret' was just having passion and determination to do something I loved, regardless of whether it would earn me money in the end and continuing to push myself and skill levels further.
Essence: What did you most like about working in Ashburton?
The people. It's a great place and the levels of creativity within the works have been awesome too. But catching up with my clients when in town is always the best part.
