Image caption: Wayne Youle, Rangi and Papa, 2022, Framed oil and acrylic on canvas, 62.7 x 62.7cm. Courtesy:the artist and Suite Gallery.

A creative flat patch at the beginning of 2022 led of a period of self-reflection for Wayne Youle. After a busy two years in 2020-2021 which produced a considerable amount of new work including Elevation from his McCahon House Residency, Wayne found himself returning to basics and falling back on what he knew, namely his identity, his sense of self and his whakapapa.

Thinking about DNA has been a recurring theme in Youle’s work over the years, but in this series, he imagines how his blood might look under a microscope, the koru representing his Māori heritage and the circles and other shapes are the joiners. These DNA paintings show his identity in a fun and playful way. Wayne never takes himself too seriously but they are minimalist and deeply personal.

Opening night: 10 August, 2022.