Acrylic on canvas diptych size 950mm x 610mm with black recess frame.
From the 2017 Exhibition All in the Same Waka. One of two unsold paintings from this series.
The feeling from this painting is that of the spiritual protective power of nature and God, Providence, belief in something bigger than ourselfs; just as those who migrated here in the first Waka believed in their collective enterprise to find a new home, so have suceeding migrants also shared that dream. And now as those who have voyaged here in more recent times find greater unity with the original Maori, we see ourselves more and more paddling together, all in the same waka.
Heimler and Proc
Gabriel was born in Paris to Hungarian/German parents where he studied at the influential art school Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He moved to Berlin after his studies to pursue a career as an artist. He quickly gained a name for himself after being asked to contribute to the Berlin Wall mural project, where he painted the 'Wall Jumper' in 1989. This became an unofficial symbol for Berlin and the Berlin Wall murals are now incorporated as an historical park. His mural was the catalyst for a successful 20 year career with a major Berlin Gallery involving numerous solo and group exhibitions, having work sold at Sothebys auction in New York, being an instigator of post war revival of Jewish culture in Berlin, and creating an international European art project 'Art Express'.
In 2010 Gabriel moved with his partner Anna Proc to Wellington, where together they have begun a collaboration that has resulted in the 'Mover' mural on the QT Art Hotel, annual major solo exhibitions and being selected as part of the New Zealand entry into the Beijing biennale in 2019. Anna Proc's artistic background was in creative crafts and art administration, but since joining with Gabriel she now paints with him on the same works and contributes to the creative ideas.