Born in 1974, Kyla grew up in Invercargill, New Zealand then moved to Duendin to study printmaking at the Otago School of Art. From 1999 to 2004 she lived in Japan, Europe and Canada where she was particularly influenced by the Japanese aesthetic and the boreal landscape of Canada. Joining print studios in Newcastle and Montreal, Kyla relished the printmaking community that surrounded them. Her return to New Zealand saw Kyla establish Solander: works on paper, a gallery dedicated to the exhibition of local and overseas prints and drawings, furthering her passion for works on paper. Kyla’s recent prints are made using the low toxic processes of mezzotint and drypoint. “The natural environment fascinates me. I delight in trees, the markers of our way that provide shelter, food and shade, whether domesticated and pruned into fanciful shapes or wild and lush keepers of our past. My work often explores the physical impact of the elements on the natural environment as well as the consequences of our occupation of the land. In the creation of my prints, I strive to find a sense of stillness and show a quiet celebration of nature. The coastal environment I grew up in is moulded by the weather. Trees hunker down, seeking protection from the elements. Twisted shapes, hinting at creatures materialized from the soil, inhabit a space between reality, memory and fantasy. Exploring our relationship to the land and drawing on places significant to me is an important part of my printmaking. These works were inspired by time spent living in Japan – a land rich in delicate topiary and trees that are objects of worship.” Kyla Cresswell April 2007