Hannah WILKINSON (NZL)
Olympian Artist – Digital art, tattoo design, ink, graffiti: Tokyo 2020, Olympic Esports Week 2023
Hannah Wilkinson is a member of the New Zealand national football team, where she plays as a striker.
She has been part of the national team since 2010 and has represented New Zealand at three FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020), and in many other tournaments and friendly matches.
Off the pitch, she’s equally passionate about art. As someone who has been drawing and painting for as long as she can remember, Hannah has produced various artworks, including tattoo designs, ink work, paintings, digital art and graffiti murals. This creative side of hers provides a retreat from the pressures of being an elite athlete.
ARTISTIC PROJECT
Curtain 1 Natura non constristatur
Curtain 2 Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Curtain 3 Fortis in arduis
Curtain 4 Conjunctis viribus
Curtain 5 Ad meliora
Curtain 6 Ex duris gloria
Kelly Salchow MacArthur participated in the Paris edition of the Olympian Artists programme by leading creative workshops to create collages inspired by the Olympic values and photographs taken in their local neighborhood with at-risk children living in foster homes in the 10th and 19th districts of Paris in October 2023.
"We talked about Olympic values, which can truly provide life lessons and guidance in terms of the choices we make when faced with decisions. The values of self-confidence, resilience, determination, teamwork, self-actualization, fair play, and setting long-term goals can guide us in pursuing our strengths to the point of reaching our potential."
Questions and answers
What does being an Olympian mean to you personally?
Being an Olympian is an enormous honour, as it means I’ve succeeded in my life-long drive to become elite in my chosen sport of football. Being an Olympian defines my approach to be the best I can be in every aspect of life, including relationships, studies and my creative passions. Being an Olympian allows me to view myself as someone who will strive to be better in every way, in the hope that I can inspire others to do the same.
When we talk about “Olympic culture”, what does that mean to you? How do you explain to people that the Olympic Games are more than just a sports competition?
Olympic culture not only defines the pursuit of athletic excellence, but also the pride in representing your country, and the importance of solidarity and unity between all the cultures of the world.
If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Always be your authentic self, never listen to anyone who doubts you and never, ever give up on what you want to achieve.
Are there parallels in your approach to your art and your approach to your sport? Or do you find that the two dimensions bring/brought out totally different sides of your personality?
What makes me successful in my art and in my sport is the passion I have for both. Each passion makes me feel alive, and I know intrinsically it was what I was meant to do. Often, being an athlete can take its toll and the pressure can seep in. When that happens, art is my retreat where I go to re-balance myself.