TheNewDowse is excited to announce the world première on December 11 of White Cloud Worlds, an exhibition of never-before-seen science fiction and fantasy artwork from Aotearoa New Zealand, ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’.

‘As varied as the land they inhabit is the mind of the artists contained in White Cloud Worlds,”says film director, Guillermo Del Toro, “…these are images to get lost in.”

White Cloud Worlds uncovers New Zealand’s sci-fi and fantasy illustrators, designers and conceptual artists and is a rare chance to celebrate their extraordinary skill and technique as they create worlds from the imagination. The exhibition is in conjunction with the launch of a book of the same name, featuring contributions by leading international sci-fi and fantasy film directors and producers, like Del Toro and Richard Taylor.

“They (the artists) will transport you to the Uchronisms of a World War One landscape transversed by giant robots, the painful, delicate love story of a centaur and its lady and the heroics of barbarians and female warriors, amongst many others . . ..” Guillermo Del Toro

“… the artists have gone beyond simply the creation of a beautiful painting and embedded a truly unique idea into their art, “ Richard Taylor

White Cloud Worlds features the work of 27 artists, many of whom have been involved with Lord of The Rings, Avatar, Wizards of the Coast and Marvel Comics. The exhibition includes sketches, concept drawings, finished prints, sculpture and oil on canvas work.

White Cloud Worlds is a partnership between TheNewDowse and Ignite Inc, a small company lead by Paul Tobin and Kate Jorgensen that is dedicated to the celebration of individual creativity through collective projects.

Paul Tobin has worked as a Concept Designer at Weta Workshop since 2003 and is the Director of Ignite Inc. He also teaches Illustration at Massey University and works as a freelance concept designer and illustrator. Paul has a Bachelor of Design (Hons), Massey University College of Creative Arts and a Bachelor of Arts, Victoria University.

White Cloud Worlds, the book, is a 128 page anthology of New Zealand fantasy and science fiction artworks, the first of its kind. It’s published by Harper Collins.