A group of Southland artists from C.S Art Studio will present their annual exhibition titled "Circles" at Whare Taupua art space in Invercargill, New Zealand, from September 5-26. The show features paintings and sculptures by 43 artists with disabilities and lived experience with mental health or trauma, challenging them to create works within a circular format rather than traditional squares or rectangles.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the therapeutic and emotional growth of artists who often face barriers in the mainstream art world, emphasizing process and personal development over commercial output. By centering on the theme of circles as a metaphor for life's cyclical learning, the show demonstrates how community-based art programs can foster inclusion, creativity, and healing in regional settings.