I am now the proud owner of number 892/2000 in the first edition of Susan King’s comic book, which I bought at her recent exhibition at the Callan Park Gallery. Here’s a snippet from the book, brimming with energy and much strangeness.
According to the comic:
Susan stopped talking around the age of 4. But she drew and drew and drew and drew and drew – expressive, rich, imaginative and complex drawings. In the mid 1980s, Susan stopped drawing. Then towards the end of 2008 as new people were starting to discover Susan’s work, she started to draw again. It’s late 2009. Susan has an exhibition happening imminently, a documentary is being made about her, wonderful people from the art world are studying her drawings… and Susan continues to draw.
There’s lots more of her work at Susan’s web site, and here are a couple of favourites of mine from the show (the one “happening imminently”):
Below is an image from her web site that I couldn’t help thinking fits closely with another of Susan as a child, drawing in the sand at Waihi, New Zealand. Maybe it’s my New Zealand connection, but I feel an emotional pull from these images; she’s managed to keep alive a fresh, child’s view and a child’s creative use of the natural resources around her. And I guess for me that’s the kick I get from Outsiders – their ability to remind me of things I’ve pushed out of my awareness, in my construction of a “normal” adult psyche.
Susan’s also on Facebook – I searched for “Susan Te Kahurangi King”.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
The Susan King from Vancouver, B.C. is now known as Rachael Berman and is represented by the Winchester Gallery in Victoria, B.C. I also purchased two oils and a drawing by that Susan King in the early 80’s and tracked her down at this gallery after many years. Her current work is fabulous too.
To whom it may concern
Hi. I’ve been searching for Susan King the artist that (once) lived in Vancouver BC, CDN. I have an original framed acrylic /ink on paper, 8.25″w X 10″h, titled: “Duck A l’Orange Dressed for Dinner”, signed by Susan King.
Is this she I am writing to?
Any information on the painting and the artist would be appreciated.
Oh! The painting is about 30+ years old and my wife and I bought it off the artist while Susan was in a transitional period of her life in and around the streets of Vancouver.
Thank You.
Stev
Hi Steve, I think it’s unlikely that your painting is by the New Zealander Susan King as I don’t think she had left NZ prior to her recent exhibition at Callan Park Gallery in Sydney. Susan has her own web site, so you could make contact with her there. Regards, Ron
Susan’s website is back online!
Lots of gallery pages crammed full of drawings!!
susanking.co.nz
Pleased to hear it, lots to share…
I am in awe of the artist that is Susan King. Her talent is a gift. To me, her work shows a depth and understanding of the word around her. What art schools aim to teach their students Susan knows through instinct.
I’m sorry that I only caught the last couple of minutes on Sunday Arts (it has just ended) , but enough to want to discover more, what incredible drawings. I’m not sure that ‘un-taught, self-taught’ whatever, has any relevance at all. It is just amazing work. OK going off in search of more of her work.
I agree with you Gerry, “self-taught artist” is an easy catch-all for many Outsiders. As I mentioned in the post, Outsiders for me are much more than that – they’re artists who, by whatever means, are open to deeper levels of the psyche than most of us who’ve blocked those layers off by egoic concerns (including, if they are artists, being competitive and successful!).
If anyone wants more info about Susan and her drawings you can go to susanking.co.nz
I just updated the site with lots of drawings available to view – but iWeb is being a &%#bum!! and the entire site is unavailable (01.11.09). Hopefully this will be resolved soon, so check back later. In the meantime search for Susan Te Kahurangi King on Facebook. All friend requests get a yes and you only get chucked off if you are really really really weird.
Rachel King (one of Susan’s sisters)
Dear Gallery!
I just saw Susan King’s Pictures on Sunday Arts and I am captivated by them! They are incredible. They are the definition of what I think art and creativity is. I am absolutely bummed that you close tomorrow and I can’t get to see her stuff.
I intend to walk the Milford sound track soon…. do you know where in New Zealand I can go to see Susan’s shinning works?
With kind regards,
Kyls
Hi Kyls,
Glad you’re keen to see more of Susan’s work. She lives in Northcote, Auckland. Her recent drawings (since August 2008) are at her place and the massive collection of her past drawings are in my care (I’m also in Northcote). So if you end up in Northcote, Auckland and would like to come & see them, I’d be happy oblige.
Just email me. petita.cole@gmail.com
Petita
Hi Ron,
Thanks for taking the time to express (in writing) your appreciation of Susan’s drawings. As a family, we’ve known for years that they are truly amazing.
Now that a number of Susan’s drawings are finally available for viewing by the public (via her website, facebook and exhibitions), all kinds of responses are surfacing. Words of compliment are passed on to Susan. Although she cannot speak, she really values this feedback.
By the way, that drawing of the duck being strangled, has a hand-written note (of Grandma’s) on the back of it. It reads, “We met a man who goes duck shooting. I told her (Susan) he got lovely ducks”.
By the way, I’m one of Susan’s 7 sisters.
Petita
Thanks Petita, you must one of those smiling faces in the family photos at the exhibition…
I felt in my post I just scratched the surface of what’s there in Susan’s work – and also in the vitality of your family connection (which came out in the videos at the show – which I didn’t even mention). This is stuff that can’t be constructed, it’s just how you guys are!
Left comment in the wrong place – doh!
Now that I’m here… lovely to meet you at the exhibition, love the review and please stay in touch.
It has been a great pleasure manning the exhibition over 2 of the 4 Saturdays. Those attending seemed noticeably affected by Susan’s work. Susan very clearly got a lot from the whole experience. So hopefully as time goes by we can share her drawings with more and more people.
I have put a link to this page on Susan’s bumface profile.
rrrr
Thanks Rachel, I enjoyed meeting you and sharing your enthusiasm in your sister’s work. And thanks for putting the link up. (For those who don’t know, “bumface” is Rachel’s name for Facebook. And why not?)