Is PM a fan of to-do lists, or perhaps lacking artistic inspiration?
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's to-do list artwork was auctioned off at Christchurch's annual Cancer Society Ball on Saturday.
French impressionist Claude Monet had his water lilies. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has her to-do lists.
Like the famous painter repeating a subject over and over, the new mother and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister has reproduced an almost identical work for two charity auctions.
Last month, an artwork by Ardern in the form of a to-do list sold on Trade Me for $2500 as part of a fundraiser for charity Parent to Parent. The list, done in white ink on a black background, had just one entry: "Everything".
A screen grab of a Newshub website story about Ardern's earlier to-do list artwork.
On Saturday, an almost identical artwork was sold at Christchurch's annual Cancer Society Ball for the exact same amount. Its buyer was surprised when she found out about the other piece, but said she was delighted the prime minister was raising money for charity.
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"She should paint more."
Former Prime Minister Sir John Key had a catalogue of doodled pencil sketches of the Beehive.
The woman, who gave her first name as Amanda, said she was inspired to buy the artwork, in part, because Ardern was a "symbol of change" and a "fantastic role model".
"I just look at what she's doing in terms of leading the nation, and she's still able to embrace motherhood. I really admire her, and wish her all the luck in the world."
The buyer said choosing a location for the artwork was still on her to-do list, which she said was comparatively small compared to Ardern's.
Water lilies were the subject of about 250 Monet paintings.
"People buy art for different reasons and this for me, it's not too serious, it gives me perspective."
Art historian Warren Feeney said it was "a bit of a shame" knowing there was another artwork "out there somewhere", but otherwise gave Ardern's work a positive review.
"I like the sentiment of her work and it is astute enough for me to call it art. Four words and she got to the essence of the current moment in time for her and it's a shared sentiment and feeling."
Ardern is not the only politician to re-hash an artwork for a good cause or a fundraiser. If former Prime Minister Sir John Key had a catalogue of his artistic efforts it would be top-heavy with doodled pencil sketches of the Beehive.
In 2010, Key presented Linwood College with a sketch titled Beehive 10 for a fundraiser. It is not clear if it was indeed the 10th edition in a series, but Key said at the time: "I chose to draw the Beehive because it's one of New Zealand's most iconic and memorable buildings".
Art even featured in a New Zealand political scandal, termed Paintergate, when it was revealed in 2002 that then-Prime Minister Helen Clark had signed an auctioned artwork she had not painted.
Ardern's office has been approached for comment about the to-do list painting.
- Stuff
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