Sunshine-inspired painting wins

Mahi Humaira. Photo / John Stone

Mahi Humaira is oblivious to the recent controversy in Whangarei about the proposed Hundertwasser art centre at the Town Basin.

But she's delighted to have received a framed certificate and a handmade trophy designed by a ceramic artist, after her Hundertwasser painting scooped the top prize in a regional schools competition last month. The competition was organised by the Bach Basin Arts and Crafts (BACH).

Mahi, 7, a pupil of Hora Hora Primary School, migrated with her parents to Whangarei from Bangladesh.

Her drawings adorn the walls of the family's central Whangarei home and father Hejbul Alam said his normally quiet daughter's win stunned everyone at home.

"She has always been interested in colours and a picture of the sun is in all her drawings because the sun is her most favourite drawing," he said.

Mahi doesn't even know who Friedensreich Hundertwasser was or the fact an art centre would be built in Whangarei in his memory.

"She saw a picture of the proposed Hundertwasser Art Centre in a newspaper and drew a matcher. It took her four days to draw it in school."

The Bach chairwoman Heather Carthew said Mahi's entry really stood out.

"We picked the winning picture from each age group and asked which child has a good sense of colour, element and drawing and, for her age, she really stood out."

Ms Carthew said Mahi's design was chosen by her teacher as one of two entries submitted to the competition.

"Students learned quite a bit about Hundertwasser as well ... elements he put into his paintings and his belief in the environment," she said.

"Hundertwasser art appeals to kids. Unlike (some) adults, they seem to get it."