Nor'West News: September 28, 2023

Thursday September 28 2023 7
work and involve the community’
Aikawa’s creative side was
first nurtured at Mt Pleasant
School.
A teacher spoke about Aikawa
painting art on a graffitiprone
fence.
“At the time I was fascinated
by the dual purpose of art,
looking beautiful and stopping
a problem,” she said.
“Ten years later, when the
same fence was getting tagged
again, I approached the homeowners
and volunteered to
paint (Oli’s) mural on the site.”
Aikawa has also brought art
to the community with murals
at Christ’s College, a Redcliffs
electric box and his university
halls of residence dining room
in Wellington.
There is also a project in the
works for the Sumner Community
Hub.
“Hopefully it will be this
summer. It will be art where
families paint by numbers
to beautify the wall and also
a chance to bring everyone
together,” he said.
Aikawa’s focus is now on the
exhibition at Christ’s College.
“I wanted to highlight boys’
art, to promote the creative side
for boys,” he said.
“My school has been very
supportive, and art has been
a real positive in my life. I
really want to bring art to the
forefront for young people.”
CAPTIVATING: Aikawa with the mural he painted in his Victoria University halls of residence dining room.
TALENT: Past and present students exhibiting their artwork at Christ’s College include Benji Ward (left), 18, from Sumner,
Jack Coles, 18, from Sumner and Max Durkin, 15, from Mt Pleasant.
8
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