Art Week May 20 - 27

Art Week May 20 - 27

Happy Happy
Director Anne Sewitsky
In cinemas from May 24

This quirky comedy is set in the snowy wasteland of Norway with a professional couple moving in next door to a local couple.

With no one else around they are forced befriend each other, having dinners, playing games, joining the local choir and going for jogs through the snow together.

At the centre of this small community is the forever cheerful Katja (Agnes Kittelsen), who even gets on with her moody husband Eirik (Joachim Rafaelsen), who has given up on sex.

Katja is in awe of the new couple from the city who are represent everything she would like to be, the seemingly the perfect couple - the slightly snobbish Danish lawyer Elisabeth (Maibritt Saerens) and handsome Sigve (Henrik Rafaelsen).

The local couple have a young lad while the professional couple have adopted an African boy, which gives rise to weird owner / slave games played by the children.

The adults also develop there own secret games and relationships which creates tensions between the two families and the couples. This leads to dramatic exposures and conclusions, with each of the characters redefining their lives.

The film is a witty commentary on Norwegian life and mores, as well featuring an extraordinarily happy, happy performance by Agnes Kittelsen.

It is interspersed with segemnets featuring a group of suited guys singing blues numbers in the snow.

This Monty Python-like addition adds a surreal moralistic tone to the singing of songs such as Amazing Grace – a reference to saving wretches.

Jonathan Grant Galleries
Ray Ching, Drawings from the Artists Studio
May 24 – June

Drawing covering more than 30 years of the artist career including animal, bird and figure studies.

The figure studies in particular provide an insight into the artist’s methods of working.

One of these works is a detailed preparatory drawing for one of his paintings and includes extensive text.

Art Auction
Objects and Modern Design
Art + Object
May 24, 6.30pm

Auction includes a number of major ceramic works including Len Castle – Inverted Volcanic moulded vase (($3000-$5000), Barry Brickell – salt-glazed crock ($1500-$2000) and Warren Tippett – large ovoid vase ($1560-$1800).

There are two major glass pieces by Ann Robinson – splitting pos ($18,000-$22,000) and scallop bowl ($22,000-$25,000).

Also featured are several important pieces of modern design: a Mies van de Rohe Barcelona chair ($3000-$5000), a Humphrey Ikin trestle table ($3000-$5000) and a Joe Colombo Elda chair ($5000-$7000).

Opera Factory
Factory Theatre
7 Eden St, Newmarket, Auckland
Wednesday, May 23-27

The two new operas being performed at the Opera Factory are the culmination of a nationwide composition contest.

Ulla’s Odyssey – music composed by Anthony Young with libretto by Leanna Brodie.

An enchanting nautical fantasy about a young girl’s solo sail around the world, the mythical creatures and environmental obstacles she encounters on her journey.

Starring Elizabeth Mandeno (Ulla) with Milla Dickens (Sea Goddess), Fiona Li (Sylla), Patrick Kelly (Cy-Ops), Angelina Davey, Warren Kilham, Mike Wu, Luana Prictor, Leila Alexander and Anthony Young, with Alysia Han as Binnacle the cat.

Love Thy Neighbour – music and libretto composed by Callum Blackmore.

A delicious tragi-comedy about a spinster gardening guru, her prize winning turnip called ‘Winston’ and her battles with a neighbouring, niggling, asthmatic, hypochondriac!

Starring Catherine Reaburn and Adam Thompson as warring neighbours with Robert Enari as ‘Winston’ the turnip.

Prayas presents
Rudali – The Mourner, based on a story by Mahasweta Devi.
Directed by Amit Ohdedar, Prayas and Margaret Mary Hollins,
TAPAC, 100 Motions Rd, Western Springs.
May 18-27

In the small village of Tohri, somewhere in India, powerful men exploit women – the wife, the neighbour and the local prostitute.

To some, it is destiny and caste, but not to Sanichari, who is mother-in-law to a beautiful and feisty woman who certainly does not accept her place or fate and sets out to defy the village rules weaving a story of friendship, treachery, greed, lust and duplicity around the unusual business of Rudali, a professional female mourner.

Rudali – The Mourner will showcase Indian folk music with a live orchestra, colourful dances and a vibrant village carnival.