John Papas was born in Auckland in 1942 of Greek-Scottish
parentage. Now regarded as a senior New Zealand artist, Papas was
initially self-taught and chose to work predominantly in ceramics
and oil paint. He has veered between the two constantly over his
career, often producing series of oil paintings with ceramic
vignettes produced specifically to be incorporated into the design
along the top or down the sides of the work.
Papas' works are strong by nature and often made up of
distinctive scraping and smearing techniques. His use of rich
glazes and other materials in his work alongside figurative and
symbolic elements add to his works' noticeable charm.
Papas' subject matter is inspired by his affinity for travel: a
calling
to explore that affords him an over-arching cultural
and environmental world-view. Classical and architectural
forms in Papas' work speak of the historical spread of society and
the ramifications this constant and lumbering growth has on the
environment, acting as a constant reminder of the need for balance.
In this manner, Papas' work stands as an emblem to the
precariousness of our relationship with the natural world and our
latent and often overlooked capability to learn from history.
Papas' works can be found in a multitude of public and private
collections throughout New Zealand, including the Waikato Art
Museum, the Hocken Library in Dunedin, the National Gallery in
Wellington, Dunedin City Gallery and in the permanent collections
of the British and New Zealand Governments.