New Artists at DoubleTree

From 30 May Christchurch based Min Kim and Wellington based Pavithra Devadatta will be the new artists participating in the collaboration between DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington and the Academy to present original artworks by contemporary New Zealand artists to visitors to the hotel. Both artists are well-established and well-known, equally at home in watercolour or oils, with strong followings among art collectors.

Min Kim's artistic journey is a fusion of her South Korean roots and the profound influence of her time in Italy, resulting in a captivating body of work that reflects her passion and cultural exploration.

Min was born in 1971 in South Korea, the daughter of painter Kevin Kim. Her lifelong passion for art led her to study at Jung Ang Fine Art University in South Korea. After working as an interior designer and illustrator, Min immigrated to New Zealand in 1999 and dedicated herself to a full-time career as an artist.

She established her own gallery before relocating to Italy in 2007 to further her art studies in Florence. There, she immersed herself in the world of 19th-century paintings, drawing inspiration from Italy's historical richness, vibrant colours, and unique atmosphere.

Pavithra Devadatta was originally trained by her late artist father in India. Since moving to Wellington in the 1990s, she has developed her own unique style with experimentation and variety being the norm. She is comfortable using both oils and watercolours. Her creations mix both traditional and contemporary styles. There is an unmistakable vibrancy of colour and movement in her art that stem from her early South Indian upbringing.

She has taken part in and sold work at the NZ Art Show, exhibited at Parliament and in charity art auctions, joint and solo exhibitions, and galleries both in New Zealand and India. Her first overseas exhibition of watercolours was held in Kolkata, India, in 2010. This was followed by another successful exhibition at the Leela Palace in Bangalore (2011), and since then she has exhibited regularly at various galleries and exhibitions in Bangalore.

Pavithra served a term as Vice President of Watercolour New Zealand in 2010, and won both the 'People's Choice' Award and the 'Innovation in Watercolour' Award Splash (the National Watercolour Exhibition) in that year. Helping children discover art and their own creativity is a new passion with Pavithra. She has conducted art workshops in Tamil at Karunai Illam Children's Home in Madurai, India, and does the same in English at Queen Margaret's College, Wellington.