Coming Home to Nature – No Place Like Home by Meg Gallagher at Totem Road

A textural series of paintings by Meg Gallagher, ‘No Place Like Home’ explores concepts of belonging, home and nature. This February, furniture brand Totem Road will feature the exhibition in a coming together of shared values and beliefs of both artist and company.

Providing sustainable furniture well-suited to the contemporary environment, Totem Road invites customers to ‘come home to nature’. From their inherent character to final presentation, each timeless piece on offer expresses a deep-rooted respect for natural resources and the local community. Founded in 2015 by Don Garvan, the furniture company is distinguished from its competitors by a core belief driving its operations – that interaction with natural materials connects people to nature and offers both physical and emotional relief. Sharing a similar sentiment is New Zealand artist Meg Gallagher. Endeavouring to impact the way people think and feel, both brand and artist ensure that their offerings are sustainable, sourced in consideration of the natural landscape and are connected to a larger, meaningful narrative.

‘No Place Like Home’ prompts viewers to look closer, breathe deeper and emerge from the experience with a personal sense of clarity.

‘No Place Like Home’ captures Meg’s experiences in New Zealand, resonating beyond her person. Without directly referencing her place of residence in Ōtepoti, Meg depicts the ocean, land and sky – immense symbols of the New Zealand landscape – in paintings set atop offcuts of denim. Though intensely introspective, the work honours the ideology of all those who engage with nature and have a desire to care for a homeland. ‘No Place Like Home’ prompts viewers to look closer, breathe deeper and emerge from the experience with a personal sense of clarity.

“With such a connection to nature, it’s only natural that I take a sustainable approach to my work,” Meg explains. “I had a lot of fun using natural pigments for this collection, derived from the land on which I live.” Using offcuts of denim that would otherwise be sent to landfill as the basis of her work, Meg draws out the rugged textures in a process of washing, soaking and dyeing. Layers of paint then echo the sweeping vistas of the landscape, seeing soothing elements of sienna and terre verte colour added to form the final expression.

Using offcuts of denim that would otherwise be sent to landfill as the basis of her work, Meg draws out the rugged textures in a process of washing, soaking and dyeing.

A testament to shared emotions and values, the ‘No Place Like Home’ exhibition will be featured at Totem Road this February. Providing an opportunity to immerse oneself, visitors can gain insight into their own relationship with home and even the reasons why they might protect it.