BECAUSE THE NIGHT-new exhibition at Mangawhai Artist Gallery

Artists Michelle Fyson and Nick Blake return to Mangawhai Artists Gallery for their third exhibition, ‘Because the night’, an immersive exploration of darkness, dreams, ritual and human experience.

The exhibition brings together painting, assemblage, found materials and installation works across both two and three dimensions. Known for their collaborative artistic practice, Fyson and Blake develop richly layered works that balance conceptual depth with humour and curiosity.

“Our practice develops through close collaboration, which allows us to find the most effective ways to express ideas,” say Fyson and Blake. “We’re interested in how different materials and forms can create emotional and imaginative experiences for viewers.”

Following their earlier exhibition Sparkle and Fade, which reflected on cycles of rise and decline, Because the Night shifts focus to the powerful role nighttime plays in human life.

“Night has always been a threshold,” the artists explain. “It’s a time when ordinary routines disappear and different senses, emotions and possibilities emerge. We wanted to explore both the playful and profound aspects of that experience.”

At the front of the gallery, visitors encounter imagined nocturnal societies inspired by historical and contemporary mutual aid organisations. These fictional ‘orders’ reflect the many ways people seek connection, protection and belonging during uncertain times.

In the second room, viewers are invited into darker and more contemplative spaces exploring myth, dreams and fleeting perceptions. Light-based works and an immersive installation encourage moments of quiet reflection.

“Our intention is to share an appreciation for the beauty and mystery found within darkness,” say Fyson and Blake. “Night can hold joy, confusion, inspiration and wonder all at once.”

‘Because the night’ is showing at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, Mangawhai,

open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm (and from 9am on Saturdays) until Thursday 11 June 2026.