Artbank: July 30, 2017

Dream Team is a series of paintings by Auckland artist Christina Pataialii. Her grouping of Tupac, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Mike Tyson is an experiment in retrospective construction of  former heroes. In making a series of contrasting narratives, colours and styles, Pataialii allows herself "to now be faced with questions around awkward searches for cultural identity, racial and gender stereotypes and the existence/influence of The American Dream in suburban Auckland." 
We also hear from Artbanker Nadine Paredes about her recent trip back to the Philippines, and her own searches for cultural identity through painting.