Interview with Briar Tucker — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Born and raised in the countryside of New Zealand, Briar developed a passionate imagination and explored her creativity through art. After college she attended Elam, School of Fine Art, graduating in 2007. She spent a few years in Auckland working and creating, before packing it all up to travel and explore the world for almost a decade.

In 2018, while residing in Vietnam, she reestablished her art practice, returning to drawing. Using soft pastels for the first time, she found a special affinity with the medium so persevered in developing her skill.

In the early stages, her work focused around technique. Colour and light being integral elements she explored seeking to create drawings that utilise the dynamic qualities inherently found within them.

Today her work still applies these elements while becoming directed towards her curiosity for the human psyche; the nature of emotions, behaviours, the conscious and unconscious mind, and how to employ these fundamentals in human nature in order to provoke an emotional response.

She has been exhibiting work since the beginning of 2019 and has already gained exposure both nationally and internationally. She has attended artist residencies in China, and has artworks in private collections worldwide.

Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art making?

My name is Briar, I am from New Zealand. I suppose from an early age I was always being creative and making something. The first memory I have where I made that choice of taking an art class as an elective over something else I was in primary school. Funny thing I remember now, I actually painted a sunset with a silhouette of a palm tree.

How would you describe yourself and your artwork?

I am a bit of a perfectionist *laughs*. I can get a bit obsessed with the details, however my drawing has taught me great patience and I love the process of creating each piece and seeing it take shape.

My artwork, well, I’m still in the process of defining what that is really. I have a few series which I work on and they differ in meaning. I guess when you look at my drawings you could say they are beautiful, maybe that’s what they are, however if you look more closely at some they have a dark side to them.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from the world around me. Nature is an artwork in its own regard and an incredible source of wonder and beauty. I love capturing those unique moments, freezing them in time and giving them life so they may continue to exist over the years.

I also take inspiration from my time travelling the world in search of new experiences, cultures, people and adventures. My artwork is a reflection of these experiences, places I have been, seen, touched, tasted, smelt and felt. Each artwork comes from one of these adventures.

What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?

I think when people look at my seascapes there is this relationship that automatically exists, a sense of familiarity with the subject. They are drawn to the movement of the water and light reflecting on it, producing feelings of serenity and calm. The Reminisswing series has a nostalgic feel to it, memories of childhood and a carefreeness. However artworks in the Message in a Bottle series are works of deeper contemplation. On the surface they appear as works of beauty and they want to be, but they have a darker side to them too.

When do you know that an artwork is finished ?

I think I could keep going for a long time after the whole picture is complete, adding small details and colours here and there, but there is a point where I look at it and I am I’m satisfied, then I just feel like I am ready to create something new.

What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?

I was selected as a finalist in the Parkin Prize Award in Wellington, New Zealand. Seeing my work there with artworks from talented established and emerging artists, that was an exciting moment for me.