Editorial: Both artful and apt

The uncharitable view would be that controversial Nelson artist Nikki Huizinga – or her "other", recently created persona, Nichola Romney – has been dabbling in self-promotion after her double life was revealed this week.

If that were the primary motive, it would appear to have paid off handsomely. Her untitled artwork, rejected by the selection panel for this year's Arts Council Nelson Impressions Art Awards, sold shortly after featuring in the Mail. She – whether speaking as Ms Romney or Mrs Huizinga – would not say who the purchaser was or how much was handed over, but she described the price as "exceptional".

In a field in which notoriety can be as important as talent when it comes to settling on an asking price, the story so far cannot have hurt her future "marketability", either. The rejection of her work received national attention. Arts writer Dr Warren Feeney, a former director of Christchurch's Centre of Contemporary Art, described the decision not to accept it as "timid" and "unfortunate". The rejection, he declared, was "not a great day for anyone interested in the arts in New Zealand", and the story was picked up by newspapers around the country.

An even less charitable response to all this might be to question her mental state. The artist as tortured soul is a well-worn cliche. Some split personality-type issues might be detected – or perhaps delusions of grandeur. As Nikki Huizinga, she did, after all, feel moved to contact the Mail in order to express support for her stance (as Nichola Romney) in relation to her painting's rejection. "Heck, if that was done to me, I'd be wild," she said. Of herself, as it turned out.

However, while such notions might have some element of legitimacy, her explanation after the deception was eventually – and cleverly – sprung by a Mail reporter is, on balance, the most plausible. Many of us do feel somewhat suppressed by the ideas, ideals and expectations of others. For the sensitive artist, such pressures might well be difficult to endure and work against the expression of creativity.

Mrs Huizinga is not the first creative type to create a persona in order to find the freedom to explore her art. She works in a field that can be notoriously "cliquey", bitchy and unaccommodating to those who prefer to set their own agenda. At a personal and family level she obviously felt under some pressure to conform – and so Ms Romney was born.

Even simply as a device in order to explore different painting techniques, adopting an alter-ego makes sense. Her award-winning work of last year, Joie de Vivre – though also controversial – showed real mastery of a modern realist style. Lloyd Harwood, of Arts Council Nelson, described it at the time as "technically brilliant". Her latest work took a completely different approach.

It would be apt to dismiss an artist of less talent involved in a story of this nature as a self-serving try-hard in need of help. However, given the controversy over her artwork last year, the home pressures and perhaps simply the fun to be had in throwing off the shackles and "becoming" someone else for a while, her story stacks up. It is also pertinent that she was upset that her ruse was discovered, shocked by the extent of coverage this week and reluctant to see the story picked up by the national media – hardly the actions of an attention-seeking egotist. Her career(s) will be followed with interest.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Bev   #2   03:42 pm Sep 03 2010

What the heck! I thought it was a great joke, she fooled everyone and now the nasties are coming out, I am not very arty but am certainly crafty and think people need to see the light side of the whole thing it certainly took a great deal of guts to get out there as someone else and she didn't break the law, good on you girl.

Dubious 1   #1   12:09 am Sep 03 2010

This person lied about who they were,she then said she sold it for a exceptional price but won't say how much or who to,My bet is nobody has paid a cent for it and the story is all part of the ladys self promotion of her own imaginings.

Whenever you lie you detract from anything else you do. A certain amount of your credibility is lost whether or not your reasons were valid.

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