6-26 September 2025
J. L. Moreno described the “Genuine Encounter” as a spontaneous moment where individuals can connect authentically, leading to new insights and possibilities.
This series of abstracted expressive paintings reflects the artist’s inner responses and subsequent insights gained, through recent travel experiences. She uses multiple layers of acrylic paint together with glazing to reflect her full-bodied response to each encounter. The work emerges over many painting sessions rather than being pre-planned.
The themes of the work have emerged from her encounters with children and youth from Myanmar, displaced by war. Thus, she explores issues of trauma, displacement, belonging, home, vulnerability, hope and resilience.
She draws conclusions related to colonization, power and exploitation throughout the world and in our own history here in Aotearoa.
