Welcome To My World

10 August 2015

Want to experience the world from a different point of view? The new exhibition at Taupo Museum might just do the trick.

Welcome To My World by pop artist Dean Stebbing opens at the museum on Saturday. The 59-year-old has taken his inspiration from some unique places - movies, particularly Westerns, heavy metal comics of the 1980s, grunge and blues music, the art of Dick Frizell, pop and comic book artists and both fictional and real life characters who have made an impression on him.

Stebbing has always lived in Taupo but this will be the first time he has held a solo exhibition. He has studied with well-regarded Taupo painter Val Raymond but is largely self-taught.

Exhibitions officer Kerence Stephen said Stebbing was a musician and a house painter by trade, and has spent many of his years pursuing creativity. He initially wrote and drew his own comics and started exploring pop art about ten years ago.

He found he enjoyed pop art more than drawing comics because the results were quicker and bolder and his work could be enjoyed hanging on the wall instead of hidden in a comic book, she said.

Ms Stephen said the exhibition featured 22 works, all of which were for sale at reasonable prices.

In my opinion, he is a true artist with wonderful inspiration and stories behind each of his works. He finds the inspiration and content for his pop art in magazines, movies, comics and music. A variety of people and characters feature in this exhibition - from New Zealand fashion legend Judith Baragwanath to rock legend Jimi Hendrix and witnesses of the 911 attacks.

Welcome To My World is the culmination of the last ten years of Stebbing's work painting with acrylics.

The exhibition will be on display at Taupo Museum from August 15 to September 14. The museum is open seven days from 10am to 4.30pm. Entry is free to children and Taupo District residents with proof of address. Museum visitors can meet Stebbing and learn more about his work on Saturday 15 August from 11am to noon at Taupo Museum.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz