Wild Flowers
Artist: Amina Baker
Growing up, artist Amina Baker always adored flowers. Spending endless summers in her Mother’s and Grandfather’s gardens, Baker would examine the vibrant colours, sumptuous shapes and textures of every botanical. The artist delighted in the fact that, with their uniqueness, each bloom never failed to make her forget the world around her. This feeling is highlighted by her selection of flowers: delicate lilies and orchids convey peace and calm, while vibrant hibiscuses and pansies dazzle viewers with their charm.
Wild Flowers is a nod to the time spent in her relatives’ gardens surrounded by flowers basking in the summer sun. Finding inspiration in the tradition of skateboarders expressing themselves through unique art on their decks, Baker unites an enduring symbol of teenage liberation and individuality with verdant florals that burst off her canvas. Her exhibition speaks to the quiet rebellion of a blooming garden that cannot be contained. For Baker, spring blossoms become symbols of the coming summer and the freedom it brings with it.
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Amina Baker is a multimedia artist working in abstract realism, and year 12 student at Botany Downs Secondary College. Vivid colour, family and botanical themes are central to her artistic approach. Baker’s work has previously been exhibited in local and international galleries, including the Franklin Arts Festival, International Art Museum of America, and the Malcolm Smith Gallery as part of Howick Youth Council’s East Auckland Visual Arts Showcase, 2024. In the same year, she was awarded the top prize of Overall Winner for the Visual Arts Showcase.
Wild Flowers is her first solo exhibition.
Want to learn more about the artist? Click here to read the 5 Under 5 Interview with Amina Baker.
About The Wall
The Wall is dedicated to supporting East Auckland artists working towards secondary or tertiary study. This exhibition space allows emerging artists to experience the process of exhibition making without the pressure that comes with the scale of a traditional gallery space. Situated amongst the hustle and bustle of the UXBRIDGE concourse, this gallery space allows young artists more exposure than its counterpart. Artist will have the opportunity to engage with the community and gain experience talking about their practice through optional Artist Talks and other public programming. After their exhibition, emerging artists will have a clearer understanding of the unseen aspects of exhibition making while members of the public will gain awareness of local creatives in their community.