ARTIST OFF TO FLORENCE

Sited: The Hutt News
Story by Angela Van de Weerdhof
8 November 2005

Stokes Valley artist Susan Knaap is one of three New Zealanders selected to show their work at one of the world's biggest art exhibitions.

The fifth Florence Biennale will be held from 3-11 December in Florence, Italy. Two years ago, work by 890 artists from 72 nations was on display.

United Nation's Secretary General Kofi Annan says "Artists have a special role to play in the global struggle for peace. At their best, artists speak not only to people; they speak for them. Art is a weapon against ignorance and hatred and an agent of public awareness. Art opens new doors for learning, understanding and peace among people and nations."

Susan Knaap has been painting part-time for the past five years and says being selected for the event by international judges is just wonderful.

The work chosen is a 2.2x1.83m painting in acrylic and it took her about six weeks to finish due to the layering technique she used. The bright red and grey/blue work consists of five canvas pieces and is best admired from some distance to see the subtle effect of the red tones.

"I paint intuitively," Knaap says, often seeking to achieve a blend of nature and emotions. "There is definitely a spiritual component."

This is the first time Knaap has used unstretched canvas to paint on, if for nothing else, because it needs to be easily transported on a plane. Taking a heavy stretched canvas to Italy would have cost thousands of dollars in freight.

As well as Knaap, work by Auckland installation artist Ruth Sumner and Greytown painter Jane Kellahan is also to be displayed in Florence.

Knaap works at Island Bay's The Learning Connexion (TLC) art school as a support person and extramural tutor. She has a BA in Psychology and her passion for people, art and creativity makes this the perfect job for her.

Knaap says she found herself at a crossroads in her life six years ago and realised she needed a complete change. She was burned-out from her job as a social worker at a neonatal intensive care unit in the Waikato and felt emotionally exhausted after losing two people close to her. In December 1999, at the age of 38, she quit her job two days before Christmas and sought total isolation in a family-owned caravan in Mount Maunganui.

Knaap says she asked herself what she would like to do if she could choose again. A strong desire to express her creativity sprang from this soul-searching. "There are two very distinct sides to me and one is my creative side.

Although Knaap has a great interest in people, teaching and psychology, looking back she knew she had made the wrong choice by turning her back on this creative side when she quit her educational television producer's job at Massey University to study full-time at Waikato University when she was 30. "I realised that all I wanted was to paint."

Knaap studied for the TLC diploma in creativity as an extramural student before TLC's Wellington directors offered her a part-time job at the school because of her experience as a social worker.

Knaap left the caravan that had been her home for five months and moved to Wellington. It was quite a big step as she had lived in Hamilton for many years and did not know anyone here. But her parents and sister have now also moved to the area and Knaap is feeling totally settled.

She has painted and sold hundreds of artworks and her spacious office on the top floor of a beautiful old convent in Island Bay is where she spends much of her time. "I like teaching and interacting with students. TLC has been really good to me as they are also sponsoring me to go to the Biennale in Florence."

Knaap also has her own business as an art coach for beginning artists called 'ArtStart'. A lifelong dream for her is to have a retreat where people can come to stay and learn about art. Asked about her future, Knaap hopes she will be able to continue exactly what she is doing now. "I go with what I paint and hope that from time to time an opportunity will come along for me like this one (Biennale). It feels incredibly surreal. I think that if you have a dream and nurture it every day you can't help but achieve it, sometimes way beyond your expectations."

Susan en route to the Fortezza da Basso, her artwork over her shoulder.

'Convergence' hanging at the Florence Biennale, Italy. "A great burst of energy" said renowned Italian sculptor, Antonio di Tommaso.

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