John Mulholland & Philip Ripa

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John Mulholland & Philip Ripa

What inspires your art practice?
Moments of inspiration come like gifts from a deep place, rising in a wellspring of creativity. We put ourselves in the way of this flow through the investigation of ideas, words, objects, sound, light, materials, techniques – whatever comes to mind and hand - allowing one to influence the other. Eventually, a raw idea is born, ready for refinement.

What materials do you work in?
We use new and found materials and objects to create works within a conceptual framework. Steel, aluminium, acrylic, wood, stone, movement, sound, light, words - all play a part.

Describe your artwork for NZ Sculpture OnShore 2021
Humans have always found shelter from the elements in every environment, creating safe havens for living, sharing and growing. The Forms of Shelter installations combine man made artifacts, natural materials, structure and architecture to create humanoid forms, contrasting habitat and family, both as forms of shelter.

Where are the public most likely to see your artworks outside of NZSOS?
While most of our works are held in private or corporate collections, Airborne, a large- scale public artwork, can be seen at Moana Reserve in Orewa.

Where did you study?
Philipp has travelled to many historic places throughout the world, building his creative awareness through studying, working and collecting art and artefacts. John’s experience has incorporated music, architectural and structural design, building and the study of Art Theory at the University of Canterbury.