Prakash Patel

Prakash Patel was born and raised in Whanganui and completed a Diploma in Visual Arts and Design at the Polytechnic in Hawkes Bay (1993).

At first sight Patel’s paintings appear deeply steeped in his Indian heritage with the use of bright iridescent colour, motifs and repeating patterns. When examined more closely, themes of cosmic spaces, deep underwater scenes with luminescent creatures or minuscule lifeforms from beneath a microscope appear. The paintings are beautiful and moving and provide the viewer with textured layers of conversation.​​​​​​​​

The artist comments, ‘I find fundamental aspects of Indian philosophy resonate strongly within my work, particularly in the way it adheres to a holistic view and that everything is connected from the microscopic world to the cosmos.’​​​​​​​​

The dotted grid collection offers an optical illusion with the appearance changing depending on how far away you stand. They resemble woven tapestries that are moving, intricate and soothing.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

“I want to create works that soak up your gaze, that make you fall into them. That’s the feeling I get looking at the night sky or the grass with lots of little flowers in it – it looks like the galaxy, like stars”