‘Self, whenua and identity’

Balclutha artist Ryan Williams, 17, has had his first exhibition "Introspections into Self" at Clutha District War Memorial & Community Centre Te Pou ō Mata-Au, from June 10-21.

"The exhibition is to show some of the work I’ve been doing in the past six months before I go to uni in the States," he said.

"I’m focusing on the connections between self, whenua, and identity in an array of prints and paintings, from weavings to pretty expressionist large-scale oil works depicting my late ancestors and myself, highlighting different aspects of society over time."

Mr Williams won a scholarship to attend Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, United States, to study environmental science, public policy and art.

"I’m planning on going down an environmental and indigenous policy and advocacy path, so probably go to law school afterwards and try and keep the art up as well."