Prudence MacDougall: Chimera

Prudence  MacDougall: Chimera
22 November – 10 December

Opening at Satellite on: Tuesday 22 November 5:30 – 7pm
Morning Tea: 10am Saturday 26 + Tuesday 29 November, 10am Saturday 3 + Tuesday 6 December
Satellite exhibition opening hours: 10am - 6pm Monday - Saturday

The Chimera is an extraordinary fire breathing creature from Greek mythology. It was initially a grotesque combination of a lion, a goat and a serpent and the central figure of one of the earliest legends depicted in Greek art. However, any imaginary creature made up of different animals can be referred to as a ‘Chimera’.

The word ‘Chimera’ is also used today to refer to organisms that contain different genealogical materials and it is this definition established artist and printmaker Prudence Mac Dougall explores in her newest body of solar plate etchings: the ‘Chimera’ suite.

Although strongly influenced by Goya, Prudence’s fantastical beasts are always portrayed with great humour and charm; creations more at home in children’s fairy tales than the horror of nightmares.


After graduating with distinction from Elam School of Fine Art in the mid 1980’s Prudence travelled, studied and exhibited extensively internationally. Her exhibition credits include; The British School in Rome, International School of Art in Umbria and The Byam Shaw School of Art in London. Closer to home, Prudence has also exhibited with many galleries in and around New Zealand and has works in many private collections.

Her art practice has always operated like a stage: setting a scene that reflects her real life experience and explores the dynamics of human relationships. Her intention when creating images is to recreate a significant moment in time as if glimpsed through a transformative lens, offering us fantastical visions from  an amazing and magical world.