Description:

Gutter (noun)
1. A low area (as at the edge of a street) to carry off surface water
2. A white space formed by the adjoining inside margins of two facing pages (as of a book) (Merriam-Webster).

Gutter Art is an innovative gallery and retail space dedicated to celebrating the process of immersive storytelling through expressive line drawings, known as manga. The phrase “gutter art” refers to art that exists outside conventional norms of typical art practices. Similar to ‘gutter art,’ manga is an often undervalued and underappreciated art form entrenched within consumer culture. Gutter art explores the concept of “gutter” operating at different scales, both conceptually and physically. The space includes various frameworks and grids that represent the idea that manga lacks inauthenticity due to its highly accessible nature. These grids also reflect the physical layout of Newmarket, highlighting the placement of the gallery, embedded within Auckland city’s urban fabric.

Set against the backdrop of the vibrant retail district of Newmarket, Gutter Art invites visitors to experience manga in its deconstructed form. A journey through intricate layers of manga will find you immersed within expressive pencil sketches, detailed storyboards, and final inked drawings, through to the final published product on display. This immersive experience allows visitors to appreciate the artistry and effort behind each piece. Suspended between floor and ceiling, the gallery’s design features perforated wooden screens that obscure the manga lining the walls, symbolizing the artists that are hidden behind their work. The published manga are found elegantly displayed within handcrafted ceramic “gutters,” offering a moment for individual reflection, repositioning manga as its own legitimate and sophisticated art form.

Gutter Art is more than a gallery; it’s a transformative experience that redefines manga and its place in the art world. By inviting visitors to engage with manga on a deeper level, Gutter Art may establish a new cultural landmark in Newmarket, celebrating this unique storytelling medium.