Alice Berry’s art is all about bright and bold colours, fun abstract shapes and making people happy, all the things her upcoming show ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ promises to deliver. We paid Alice a visit and snapped some behind the scenes action to share with you, she also shared about her background as an artist and what the show is all about.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself, where did you grow up, go to art school? Did you always want to be an artist?
I grew up in Tauranga by the harbour. I’ve always loved being arty and did after school art classes as a kid and was thought by artist Hayley Brown, but, it was always just a hobby for me really. I never studied anything art or design at school as I wanted to be a town or environmental planner (lolz). My first abstract painting I did when I was 12 and it was featured in a school exhibition, I was pretty stoked. So anyway, off I went to Otago uni to become a town planner, I’ve always loved geography and have been interested in how cities work. By the end of my first year, I hated and it and thought fuck this and quit uni. About 2 weeks before the next study year started I decided to apply for the Otago Polytech’s design course having never opened a design programmme. Turned out I loved graphic design so that worked out well. All the while I still painted for enjoyment. Over the years my passion for painting has grown and now it’s a part of the work-life which is awesome!
2. What’s the idea behind your show ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’?
I went for a trip to Samoa for my 30th birthday, I’d always wanted to visit a Pacific Island and I had some friends who were keen, so off we went. On this trip, I had an amazing, calming, energising and inspiring time. The people were so lovely, the culture was so happy and the colours everywhere were so vibrant. It made me feel like I was in a magical wonderland, especially sitting outside on a warm night. When I got back home it started to feel like a distant memory, almost as if it had never happened which is why I decided to paint about my experience, and why the title is inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream.
3. What inspired you to have the show?
Basically what I said above. Plus I loved it so much and had such good vibes that I wanted others to experience that through seeing my artworks. And maybe to remind people of their own adventures and experiences that may now feel like just a dream.
4. How is this work different from your previous shows?
These works are much more detailed and layered than my previous works. They are also kind of expressing scenes as well as feelings but still in an abstract way. I’ve also used a lot more colour in each artwork than before.
5. What can people coming to the show expect to see?
Vibrant, energetic, colourful and playful artworks. Tinsel on the walls, tinsel on my dress, plants and more. I’m bringing a totally decked out holiday and celebration vibe to the show.
VIEW ALL ALICE BERRY ART PRINTS & ORIGINAL ARTWORKS >>
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Alice Berry from endemicworld on Vimeo.