Rebecca Jamieson
Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko Patea te awa
Ko Aotea te waka
Ko Te Atiawa te iwi
Ko Jamieson tōku whānau
Ko Gary tōku papà
Ko Gillian tōku mama
Ko Rebecca tōku ingoa
Artist Statement
In November 2019 Rebecca was in Wuhan China and she had qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games in Modern Pentathlon, being the first New Zealand woman to do so.
She felt on top of the world after seeing her childhood dream come to fulfilment.
On her return home to Aotearoa however she was to experience heartbreak and betrayal in her marriage, followed by a traumatic injury that left her unable to compete for 18 months.
The paradox of life is pain and joy, and everything in between. It was during this time she discovered clay.
The inspiration for her current series of works comes initially from Te korekore. The space of nothingness but simultaneously unlimited potential. The birthplace of light and dark and everything in between.
The clay speaks to our resilience as humans. The shadows remind us the light is just around the corner and the light reminds us of the strength it took to get there.
Rebecca is currently a visual arts teacher and part-time athlete residing in Patumāhoe, South Auckland.