I have been meaning to see these works at Bartley and Company for weeks since the show opened. I haven’t seen works by this artist before, and from the thumbnails I thought it was Martin Thompson.
His work on the wall visible from the bar at Midnight Espresso, pink pixel fractal, up way too high to see. It doesn’t make the vegan nachos taste better, or drown out the sound of the waitress’ screaming ‘turkish tofuuuu buuuun’ bouncing of the walls competing with the inappropriately loud drum n bass, but its pretty cool. Boo Midnight.
STREAMING ATA I_2012
year: 2012
size: 1015 x 610 mm
media: acrylic on perspex Courtesy of Bartley and Company Art, Wellington
Did_you_ever_name_files_like_this.doc
These works are incredible, I couldn’t pick a favourite. It took me a few advances and retreats with furrowed brow to figure out the glass was behind the work and not in front, quite an illusion. Squares of perfectly flat black paint pixels in a beautiful digitally inspired tukutuku. In the coloured works, the paint was applied so that at times it oozed felt tip fluoro green through the tapestry canvas like a playdough spaghetti haircut.
EXPLORER (2012)
year: 2012
size: 960 x 660 mm
media: acrylic on mesh on canvas Courtesy of Bartley and Company Art, Wellington
The qualities of fabric in these works are what I like the most; twisting and warping, sagging on walls like old tapestry, so vibrant in neons and black. Looking for symbols within these is like a word search. The first thing I saw was a Marae; reduced down to a few squares, the matapihi looking out from beneath out stretched ribs are instantly recognisable. Art that is Kiwi in a way that isn’t kitsch isn’t something I get the pleasure of seeing, and I feel privileged that I can see in those squares what others may not. Like the llamatron lama lurking amongst the other symbols pew pew pew.
The marriage of modern and traditional, digital and analog, past and present reminds me of Rachel Rakena‘s work. She is also represented by Bartley and Company, her video works and installations are very poignant.
Lisa Reihana‘s website is unfortunately not as awesome as it once was, or rather it isn’t there. Such a shame it was so damn cool. I saw some of her video works at Te Papa, Mai i te aroha, ko te aroha, Te Ara a Hine. The video portraits are very engaging, and it was the first of her works I had physically been in front of. I think my love for these artists is a hangover from art school, you’re always going to like (says I) works that deal with mediums you know about in depth.
I can’t tell you my name but I can show you where you should scratch me! Head, followed by belly and chin, ta.
I can’t think of many things cooler than a dog that chills out outside an art gallery. Old brown eyed girl you are beautiful, thanks for the affection.
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