Nicki Hall
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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Nicki hall has lived on the sapphire coast of New South Wales for the past 27 years during which time she has developed skills in painting and sculpting. Workshops with well recognised Australian Artists, such as Lucy and Barry McCann, Hermen Pekel and Joseph Zubukvic at Charles Sturt University’s “Mitchell School of Arts” as well as John Wilson in the Blue Mountains, have assisted with her painting development. Clay throwing and sculpting were Nicki’s choice of expression at School Level and some weekend workshops with Doris Cruse-Hoyne in sculpture introduced her to soapstone, Limestone and Hebel Block.
Nicki has held local beginners painting and sculpting workshops for Merimbula and District Art Group, Montague Art and Craft Society and Bombala Painters. She also gives regular, weekly lessons in her shop. Nicki paints animals, landscapes and seascapes in the mediums of pastels, acrylics, watercolours and oils in both traditional and contemporary styles. She is represented by galleries throughout New South Wales and regularly takes part in exhibitions with Artist’s Society of Canberra, Montague ART & Craft Society, Bega Valley Art & Craft Society and others.
Nicki has won numerous prizes with her paintings including the open art prize at the Goulburn Workers Club Traditional Art Show in 2013. The winning painting was acquired by the Goulburn Workers Club and was an acrylic titled “ A matter of Perspective” featuring a tug at Eden Wharf. Her paintings have been finalists in the Shirley Hannan Portrait award and the Basil Sellers Art Prize. Most recently, her pastel painting “ Wallagoot Dunes” won the Narooma Art Prize at the 2014 Easter Exhibition.
ARTIST'S REASON FOR PARTICIPATING
Being an artist is a life long dream that not all people are able to realise. Although I have been working towards ‘artistic financial independence’, I still run a shop and rely on accumulated investments to provide life’s necessities. In many ways being an artist is an indulgent and self centered occupation that can foster elitism, isolation and individualism. Yet, I wish to dedicate my time to improving my skills and selfishly pursue my art journey. I believe that to better this world, people need to encourage a sense of community and to individually take responsibility to lighten their ‘footprint’ on the natural world. In progressing as a civilization we have a responsibility to incorporate and cultivate the existence of animals and their habitats. What better way to motivate my competence in art than to use my level of achievement to raise funds towards upholding my beliefs. For me, the orangutan represents the sensitivity of all life other than (and ultimately including) humans. I was really excited to stumble across the orangutan project. It will be a great platform from which to begin my ideal and hopefully drive another level of accomplishment in my ability.
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NENG
From a One-Metre Chain to a Life of Peace and Dignity
For four years, Neng lived on the end of a one-metre chain, huddled on two wooden planks suspended 30 feet above water. There was no roof, no protection from sun or rain. Her face was sunburned, her body skeletal, and her eyes inflamed from fever. For six long years, her only food was white rice and the occasional banana.
Rescuers from Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) had known of her for two years but were unable to act until a safe facility was available. When the Sintang Centre was opened in 2010, Neng was finally rescued with help from Willie Smits and the O-Team.
At the time of her rescue, she was five years old, paralyzed, unable to walk, and nearly blind. The short chain had robbed her not only of freedom, but of health, movement, and hope.
Now in her 20s, Neng lives at International Animal Rescue’s (IAR) Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. Although deemed “unreleasable” due to the extent of her early trauma, Neng lives with a group of other female orangutans in similar situations, where she receives expert care, enrichment, and companionship.
She shares a deep bond with fellow rescue Suki, and when the two were released into their large new socialisation cage, they immediately climbed to the top to survey their surroundings—testing the height, the strength, and the safety of their new world.
Today, Neng is a calm, content orangutan. She’s currently learning how to move between platforms and ropes on command, and soon, she will begin spending time in a newly built forested enclosure—a huge step forward in her enriched care.
She may never be wild again, but Neng’s spirit is free.
