The fine side of art

Jennifer Mason with her pet chihuahua. Photo / Babiche Martens

Photographer Jennifer Mason's first solo exhibition, called Everything You Think Is Wrong, is now on at the Oedipus Rex Gallery in Auckland. Mason describes the show as a "voyeuristic journey through the inner workings of conservative suburban lives". Think images of a young couple watching television in their living room, a woman applying calamine lotion to the legs of a bored-looking girl, a floating chihuahua, and many more. "My work has a cinematic quality which questions the role of documentary factuality, it directly addresses the subjects in the images. It is an aesthetic which amplifies the lives of the very ordinary. It attributes my subjects with meaning and reason to investigate further," says Mason, who studied at Elam School of Fine Arts before finishing her degree in New York. "I guess I got into photography because I wasn't good at painting," she jokes, "Photography is an easy way to make the images I wanted without putting too much effort in."

* Everything You Think is Wrong, at the Oedipus Rex Gallery until June 27.

Ten favourite things

1 Nana's ornament

My Nana Hall was obsessed with ornaments - as I assume all nanas are. She left all her granddaughters a Gerold Porzellan ornament each. I got one with a woman and poodle. Gerold figurines have the soft muted colouring of Lladro and the whimsical look of Hummel's. The females are ultra-unrealistic idealisations of grace. They were the Barbies I could never touch, only peer at through a glass cabinet as a child.

2 Pan by Liz Maw

This small print of the painting Pan illustrates a subject matter close to my heart. I love that it's half-human, half-animal and I love that it glows green. But I also find delight in the smaller details. The hands are so delicate and thin-looking, it's as though they would snap off if you touched the surface of the print.

3 Art Deco ring

My husband just got me an art deco ring from Anthea's in Remuera. I'd had my eye on it for months and with some gentle nagging I managed to secure it. It is truly divine. It's not about how big the stones are or how valuable it is, my love for it is based purely on its design. The closer I put my face to it, the more beautiful it becomes, and there are few things you can say that about.

4 Piano

I acquired this piano only recently. I swapped a piece of artwork for it from my neighbour. I had a bunch of burly men carry it across the street, the move was very difficult. I guess the easy part now will be learning how to play.

5 Tiny, my pet chihuahua

I know this isn't anything to do with art, but in terms of design she is perfect. Despite heckles like "it's a rat" at dog parks, I can truly say it's the most enriching relationship I have ever had.

6 Bones

I missed my pet cat so much I had her bones exhumed from her grave. A friend was kind enough to clean the bones up and I lay her to rest in a special box. She met an untimely death on Mt Eden with a tour bus. Taxidermy is gross, but a box of small, thin, clean bones seems elegant.

7 Wreath by Richard Orjis

This photograph is a decadent display of colours and beauty. I have hung it in front of my bed and sit in bed staring at it. Its richly purple flowers are limp-ish and are bound up in an unforgiving wreath which floats in a sea of black, kind of appropriate for the bedroom.

8 Abstraction by Andrew McLeod

I have a tiny little abstract work by Andrew McLeod that I sort of consider a mini version of a bigger work at my partner's cafe. It's a perfectly composed collection of coloured and black and white squares and geometrics. It brings a modern aspect to a home full of old retro ornaments.

9 Skateboard art work by Erica Van Zon

This fabric skateboard by my artist friend, Erica Van Zon, was a wedding gift. I don't think I will ever get sick of looking at it. It's playful and silly but so skilfully crafted it can transport you into a world where everything could be made from felt and satin.

10 Miniatures tray

I have been collecting miniature animals for about five years. They have been filling up my printer's tray and it is almost full. My favourites would be ceramic animals from the 1950s. I seem to be drawn to things I could crush between my fingertips.