Sam Mahon
Encyclopedia
Sam Mahon is a socialist artist and author living in Waikari
in the South Island of New Zealand
. He is the son of Peter Mahon
, a lawyer notable for the Mt Erebus disaster inquiry.
He has become involved with preventing water pollution in the Canterbury region
and is using art to highlight the issue. For example, in late October 2009, Sam Mahon made a bust of Environment Minister Nick Smith
out of dairy-cow dung in order to publicise the campaign to stop the Hurunui River
from being dammed for irrigation.
In the lead up to the 2011 election
he created a painting of prime minister John Key
dead in an ally. The image was made into a game on his website where visitors could guess who killed the PM by watching video clips embedded on the page. Those who guess correctly will be announced on election day (November 26) and be eligible to win prizes, including a cast bronze of a dying dove, another work by Mason which he describes as "a metaphor for dying hopes".
Waikari
Waikari is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on State Highway 7 near the Weka Pass and was served by the Waiau Branch railway from 6 April 1882 until its closure on 15 January 1978...
in the South Island of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He is the son of Peter Mahon
Peter Mahon (lawyer)
Peter Thomas Mahon QC was a New Zealand High Court Judge, best known for his Commission of Inquiry into the crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 . His son, Sam Mahon is a well-known artist.-Military Service:...
, a lawyer notable for the Mt Erebus disaster inquiry.
He has become involved with preventing water pollution in the Canterbury region
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
and is using art to highlight the issue. For example, in late October 2009, Sam Mahon made a bust of Environment Minister Nick Smith
Nick Smith (New Zealand)
Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
out of dairy-cow dung in order to publicise the campaign to stop the Hurunui River
Hurunui River
The Hurunui River is the fourth largest of the four principal rivers in north Canterbury, New Zealand, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres. The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps, to the Pacific Ocean....
from being dammed for irrigation.
In the lead up to the 2011 election
New Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
he created a painting of prime minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
dead in an ally. The image was made into a game on his website where visitors could guess who killed the PM by watching video clips embedded on the page. Those who guess correctly will be announced on election day (November 26) and be eligible to win prizes, including a cast bronze of a dying dove, another work by Mason which he describes as "a metaphor for dying hopes".
External links
- sammahon.com
- Biography at Longacre Press
- Profile at the Centre of Contemporary Art (COCA)