Painting with Seniors project in collaboration with Siau-Jiun Lim
17-23 July, 2025
Dunedin Community Gallery
Funded by
Creative NZ
17-23 July, 2025
Dunedin Community Gallery
Funded by
Creative NZ
Art is a captivating medium that connects people. A painting can communicate in many ways, from the simplicity of colour to the complexity of personal reflection. Creating portraits of the seniors at Highview Home has been a courageous and humbling experience for me. It's not just about artistic interpretation; it's also about how each individual sees themselves in the artwork.
Some seniors have told me that the portraits don't quite feel like "them," because the image in their heart remains that of a younger self. Even as our bodies age, many of us still feel around 20 inside. Maybe my interpretation isn’t entirely accurate—or maybe that’s exactly the point. Either way, the process has been deeply rewarding.
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned from these workshops is that everyone’s creative process is unique. Making art often involves struggle—wanting to get it right, feeling inadequate, and facing self-doubt. The seniors and I share these emotions during our weekly sessions, where frustration and joy often coexist.
Creativity is accessible because it is something we are born with. It can arise from both conscious intention and subconscious expression. This means we don’t always need a clear purpose to create art; it can also emerge naturally as a behaviour shaped by our experiences. Surrealists like André Breton and André Masson practised automatic drawing, minimizing conscious control to allow the subconscious to express itself directly—creating art "freed of rational control." For example, Lindsay draws squares inspired by his past experiences and loves creating windows and doors like those he once constructed. Laurie prefers lines and geometric forms; he wants to ensure he gets it right. Watching them work has reminded me that my conscious mind can sometimes get in the way. In seeking perfection, we can lose touch with our own intuition.
This exhibition is a celebration of that process—emotional, personal, and shared growth.
About the Painting with Seniors Project
The idea for this project originated in 2016 during my visits to Enliven Positive Ageing Services. It was there that I noticed something powerful: painting provided seniors with a sense of meaning and joy, especially as their mobility began to decline.
Taking this experience with me, I approached Highview Home to run a voluntarily Saturday art class for a total of 10 blocks, we have a break and an in-house exhibition every 5 sessions. This year, the momentum has grown—we are now delivering 20 workshop blocks, with 15 of them generously funded by Creative New Zealand.
Thanks to the support of manager Lee Nicol, who provides materials and organises an in-house exhibition, the workshop has become a highlight for many residents. Last year, I proposed a public exhibition to Creative New Zealand to share these remarkable artworks beyond the home and celebrate the talents of our seniors.
We host the exhibition at the Dunedin Community Gallery, from 17-23 July 2025.
This exhibition is more than just an art show; it celebrates purpose, pride, and the joy that creative expression brings, regardless of age.
We host the exhibition at the Dunedin Community Gallery, from 17-23 July 2025.
This exhibition is more than just an art show; it celebrates purpose, pride, and the joy that creative expression brings, regardless of age.
