Flowstate
by Dali Susanto & Zonny
Date: Jan 30 – Feb 19Space: Main Gallery
Dali Susanto’s signature style is instantly recognisable and ubiquitous. Popping up on windows, pavements and streetscapes, on clothing, on people at parties, on cars and on anything that stays still long enough to be painted – Dali is a man on a mission, spreading his brand of quirky joy across Hawke’s Bay and beyond.
Drawing from the traditional practice of his Yogyakarta home, fused with a vibrant style that is all his own, Dali juxtaposes abstract shapes with tonal shades laid adjacent in bold hues that suit his colour block aesthetic. His composition and colour choices are instinctive, mirrored in his razor-sharp eye for a striking op shop find. He fills in form, overlaying in black with a bold hand. Stark contrast and decisive lines are the bones of his style.
His subject matter is slightly bizarre and sometimes obtuse, but comes from his heart and the relationships he makes wherever he goes. His use of text, particularly in public pieces, sends a beacon of positivity into the world drawing people in, leaving them better than he found them. In Dali’s world, life is a great big joyful party and everyone is invited.
Zonny is an artist from Napier, New Zealand. He works across music, murals, digital art, and oil painting, always moving between mediums to explore new ways of creating. His recent focus has been on oil portraits, blending realistic faces with abstract, unpredictable brushwork.
Zonny’s work in this exhibition is from 2025 – the result of spending long hours in the studio, making painting after painting and getting the reps in. The work centres on realistic portraits mixed with loose, abstract paint that’s allowed to move naturally rather than be overworked. These pieces mark a productive year and a clear point in his practice. With a ticket booked to Thailand, Zonny felt it was time to release these paintings to the world. Enjoy!