Elementa 5 is the third in a series of exhibitions by Peter Augustin and friends. In this edition, Peter is joined by ceramicist Anett Pilz.

ELEMENTA 5 – Diversity

Peter Augustin and Anett Pilz

Whakaaturanga Gallery, 4 – 30  November 2025

 Elementa 5 is the third in a series of exhibitions by Peter Augustin and friends.
In this edition, Peter is joined by ceramicist Anett Pilz.

The exhibition blends Asian and Western interpretations of the five elements—earth, water, fire, spirit, and metal—to reflect the artistic approaches and materials used by each artist.

Titled ‘Diversity’, the exhibition celebrates the artists’ perspectives, the creative processes at play, and the richness of love and life across cultures. It embraces the beauty of difference—regardless of race, belief, or colour—within the vibrant cultural landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand.

PETER AUGUSTIN – Painter and sculptor

Peter was born into a family of artists and musicians in Slovenia. In his childhood, he was an active painter and followed in the footsteps of his uncles. In his teenage years, he moved to Switzerland, where he embarked on an artistic path, studied at the Lucerne School of Art and received private lessons from renowned artists Paul Haelan and Otto Gilli. Peter has dedicated a large part of his time to painting, between  work in tourism and hospitality.

Peter lived in Switzerland for 35 years, exhibiting there and in other countries and receiving various awards, including in Holland, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Russia and New Zealand.

His work reflects the passion and inspiration of being an artist. It is symbolic, full of colours, emotions and is part of a larger context of cultures and rhythms of life of the present and future in the countries visited. By following his own unique artistic path.

“With colours I try to make a positive contribution to people’s lives. I’m trying to bring colour to your home life, combined with peace in a joyful different style. The condition of having or being composed of differing elements.”

Peter’s working style has been described by gallerists as a “lyrical abstract”, “I am an abstract with some memories.” In New Zealand, he is influenced by the bright colours of nature, the amazing variety of greens and blues and the sea.

“Art does not reproduce the visible, it makes visible.”

He has been living in Whitianga since May 2021, having lived in Kapiti for thirteen years and Wellington for two years. Peter is an elected member of the Academy of Fine Arts, a member of Watercolour New Zealand and a member of Xpress Artists Coromandel and Mercury Bay Art Escape.

Anett Pilz – Ceramic Artist

Anett is a trained teacher for Mathematics and Art. For many years she worked as a teacher in Germany, where she originally comes from.

She and her husband moved to New Zealand 15 years ago and love it here.

Since 2001 she is concentrating her artistic work on pottery. In 2014 she took part on a decorating-workshop, leaded by the local Ceramic Artist Irene Tuscer-Falconer. Since than she is drawing delicate pattern on her ceramic forms. She found her own style by applying Zen-Tangles with a fine brush on her pots and sculptures.

Anett is taking part on local and national exhibitions.

In 2010 she joined the Bethlehem Pottery Club. There she found a lot of inspiration, help and new friends. With the help of the members of the Bethlehem Pottery club she started exploring new things: the chemistry of glaze, Raku-firing and experimenting with different tools and techniques.

“I totally love shoes and handbags, but this is another story!

I learned early in life that you can’t have everything you desire, but I can make them from my preferred medium clay.

Too uncomfortable to wear, but this could happen with some real shoes as well.”

I’m trying to bring in my work colour in your home life combined with peace in a joyful different style. Human differences in colour and living life Involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds.

The condition of having or being composed of differing elements.

To be different in life, in love, art world view, be human and be kind. The Kiwiland has more diversity in their life than other islands in the world.