You were at Elam at the same time, is that where you two met, and was it an instant ‘meeting of the minds’?
Gavin: I did meet Sam at Elam, her work was weird.
Sam: I was a mature student when I went to Elam. I knew Gavin’s work: He was a “Serious Oil Painter” doing Lempicka-style portraits. I became the “Drinks Gal” at Anna Bibby Gallery; Gavin showed with her and that is how the friendship took off.
Is there a strong collaborative method for your combined shows?
Gavin: we began collaborations with chats and beers...It is hard giving control away but I love the surprise of the end result.
Sam: Gavin’s work is meticulous - everything ordered. My work is rolling chaos and when he delivers one of his works to me, I feel like a teenager with a sharpie behind the bike shed, no clean surface is safe!
Can you tell us a little about your latest show at Melanie Roger Gallery in Jervois Road?
Sam: Over beers, the show conversation started with, what would the ‘first New Zealanders’ be like before the Maori. This was our starting point. Skulls was my response and I am in the skull zone with my work now so, skulls, there will be some skulls on show at Melanie Roger Gallery.
The head is central to your work - what fascinates you with it?
Gavin: Since making paper collage portraits over the past five years or so, it has been a progressive reduction. Some now have a Groucho Marx mask-like feel: glasses, moustache, with a triangle nose. I still love that simplicity with personality recognition.
Sam: My earlier portraits where based loosely on the tattoo selections that people make. The viewer has to build the narrative based on these preconceived loaded representations, a bit like religious iconography.
What are your favourite uptown haunts?
Gavin: Markets and second-hand book shops are my favourite haunts, rummaging through other people’s old family photos and possessions.
Sam: K’Road is my favourite haunt, St Kevin’s Arcade, Alleluya. Many afternoon beer chats have taken place there and may it continue!
(WILL PAYNT, STUDIO ART SUPPLIES)