Artist statement Imbued with the significance of life experience, the transitional object makes a cameo appearance. The 'mine, but not me' possession is portrayed as contemporary, real, animated and self-possessed. Child and adult aspirations converge, and a larger-than-life time shift is suggested.
Biography of the Idea
As an art student I blended sculpture and photography as I investigated perceptions of scale, perspective (literal and metaphorical), playing with toys and 'growing up'. Since graduating in 1997 my work has involved two major themes:
I initially saw these toys as part of a sculptural exploration and (nostalgically?) tried to stop further deterioration of them using resin encapsulation. But this only led to a sense of a fly stuck in amber, in stasis, locked up forever halting the life process, going neither forward nor backward.
Biography of the Idea
As an art student I blended sculpture and photography as I investigated perceptions of scale, perspective (literal and metaphorical), playing with toys and 'growing up'. Since graduating in 1997 my work has involved two major themes:
- Highly wrought sculpture for adult play which was concerned with human disconnectedness from the physical self, and Chindogu/practically useless working objects. ( images available on request )
- Old play worn matchbox toys with maybe a bit of life left in them, once loved but now worse (or better) for wear.
I initially saw these toys as part of a sculptural exploration and (nostalgically?) tried to stop further deterioration of them using resin encapsulation. But this only led to a sense of a fly stuck in amber, in stasis, locked up forever halting the life process, going neither forward nor backward.
From sculpture to photography
From my art school days with photography I knew that perceptions change dramatically once usual scale references are altered. The images of toys I created next were in contexts largely made from colour/light/texture. This objectified the toys in a mysterious realm- yes they were independent, but they were isolated in their own space and time.
On assignment
Use of iconic lifelike situations created an environment which allowed the suspension of disbelief, and finally released the toys into the realm of play, imitation and imagination I was looking for. Digital photography with its larger than life heightened contrast and saturated colours, and digital manipulation were used to construct the images.
From my art school days with photography I knew that perceptions change dramatically once usual scale references are altered. The images of toys I created next were in contexts largely made from colour/light/texture. This objectified the toys in a mysterious realm- yes they were independent, but they were isolated in their own space and time.
On assignment
Use of iconic lifelike situations created an environment which allowed the suspension of disbelief, and finally released the toys into the realm of play, imitation and imagination I was looking for. Digital photography with its larger than life heightened contrast and saturated colours, and digital manipulation were used to construct the images.
Artist Information
Formal Art Education:
1997 - BFA (with the Sculpture Prize), Otago Polytechnic School of Art
1995-97 - student at Otago Polytechnic, School of Art
1997 - exchange student at Canberra School of Art, ANU
1994 - student at Nelson Polytechnic School of Art
Other relevant interest/involvement:
2002 - now Otago Sculpture Trust Founding board member and treasurer. Responsible for website and numerous website photographs
2001-03 Part-time lecturer, Design Degree (Plastics) Otago Polytechnic
1998-99 Relief tutor, Sculpture Dept., Otago Polytechnic School of Art
Solo Exhibitions:
2012 - On Assignment, Photospace Gallery, Wellington
2002 - All Together, Ward 48, Dunedin
Group Exhibitions:
2010 - 'Chindogu'- Fringe Festival Event at Dunedin Settlers Museum
2009 - 'Chindogu'- Fringe Festival Event at Dunedin Public Art Gallery
2003 - Portable Swap Show: Blue Oyster Gallery Dunedin, Enjoy Project Wellington, and High Street Project Christchurch.)
2002 - Piped Music: Physics Room programme October - November. Christchurch
2001 - (Also I997,'98,'99 and 2000), Cleveland Art Awards, Dunedin
2001 - XXX, Lightbox artist run space, Auckland. February
1999 - Oamaru stone group exhibition Forrester Gallery, Oamaru
1999 - The End. Virtual Tart internet art exhibition site
Awards:
1998 - Sculpture Merit Award, Cleveland Art Awards, Dunedin
1997 - Sculpture Prize, Otago Polytechnic School of Art
1997 - Student Sculpture Award, Cleveland Art Awards
1996 - Highly Commended, Photography, Otago University Students Assn Art Exhibition
1996 - Finalist, Dunedin City public sculpture competition
Temporary public art projects:
1997 - TPAP, Canberra, with Stephen Hurrell artist in Residence at ANU Canberra School of Art
1996 - Sculpture Rescue, Dunedin
Publications (Images/Reviews):
2009 - The Star newspaper, Mar 12th
2002 - Otago Daily Times, Oct 3rd
1999 - Deep South, (www. otago. ac.nz/Deep South) Summer issue. University of Otago
1998 - Deep South, Winter issue
1997 - Deep South,), Spring issue
1996 - Monica reviews art/ art praxis (Aug-Sept)
1996 - Otago Daily Times (7 June, 26 July)
Formal Art Education:
1997 - BFA (with the Sculpture Prize), Otago Polytechnic School of Art
1995-97 - student at Otago Polytechnic, School of Art
1997 - exchange student at Canberra School of Art, ANU
1994 - student at Nelson Polytechnic School of Art
Other relevant interest/involvement:
2002 - now Otago Sculpture Trust Founding board member and treasurer. Responsible for website and numerous website photographs
2001-03 Part-time lecturer, Design Degree (Plastics) Otago Polytechnic
1998-99 Relief tutor, Sculpture Dept., Otago Polytechnic School of Art
Solo Exhibitions:
2012 - On Assignment, Photospace Gallery, Wellington
2002 - All Together, Ward 48, Dunedin
Group Exhibitions:
2010 - 'Chindogu'- Fringe Festival Event at Dunedin Settlers Museum
2009 - 'Chindogu'- Fringe Festival Event at Dunedin Public Art Gallery
2003 - Portable Swap Show: Blue Oyster Gallery Dunedin, Enjoy Project Wellington, and High Street Project Christchurch.)
2002 - Piped Music: Physics Room programme October - November. Christchurch
2001 - (Also I997,'98,'99 and 2000), Cleveland Art Awards, Dunedin
2001 - XXX, Lightbox artist run space, Auckland. February
1999 - Oamaru stone group exhibition Forrester Gallery, Oamaru
1999 - The End. Virtual Tart internet art exhibition site
Awards:
1998 - Sculpture Merit Award, Cleveland Art Awards, Dunedin
1997 - Sculpture Prize, Otago Polytechnic School of Art
1997 - Student Sculpture Award, Cleveland Art Awards
1996 - Highly Commended, Photography, Otago University Students Assn Art Exhibition
1996 - Finalist, Dunedin City public sculpture competition
Temporary public art projects:
1997 - TPAP, Canberra, with Stephen Hurrell artist in Residence at ANU Canberra School of Art
1996 - Sculpture Rescue, Dunedin
Publications (Images/Reviews):
2009 - The Star newspaper, Mar 12th
2002 - Otago Daily Times, Oct 3rd
1999 - Deep South, (www. otago. ac.nz/Deep South) Summer issue. University of Otago
1998 - Deep South, Winter issue
1997 - Deep South,), Spring issue
1996 - Monica reviews art/ art praxis (Aug-Sept)
1996 - Otago Daily Times (7 June, 26 July)
