Photospace Gallery - contemporary New Zealand photography
  • Exhibitions
  • Artists
  • About
  • Links
  • Photo books
  • Blog
  • A Month of Sundays - Responses to the Covid-19 Lockdown

Lynn Hurst - 'Nature Morte' - 3rd December 2016-28 Jan 2017

29/11/2016

0 Comments

 
'Atomic Vanitas' - Lynn Hurst, photospace gallery wellington New zealand
'Atomic Vanitas' - Lynn Hurst

* * * GALLERY TALK by LYNN HURST, Saturday 28th January, 1.30pm * * *

Nature Morte

The Dutch Vanitas painters of the 17th century could not have imagined how their work would inspire a wave of artists working in a medium not yet invented. A number of New Zealand photographers have drawn inspiration from them (Fiona Pardington's recent work is but one example) and re-interpreted the elements and content to reflect current, local and personal concerns. Several Photospace Gallery exhibitors have also explored the Vanitas theme, most recently Alex Efimoff in his 2015 exhibition 'Men'. But I think you will agree when you see Lynn Hurst's exhibition that she brings something new, personal and very different to the tradition.

'Nature Morte' is Lynn Hurst's first exhibition at Photospace Gallery. It opens on December 3rd (12 noon-3pm) and runs until 28th January, 2017. Please not that Photospace Gallery will be closed from the 23rd of December to the 8th of January, inclusive, but viewing by appointment is available on most days. I'm not leaving town, so please email James Gilberd if you wish to visit the gallery during the holiday period.

Artist and exhibition info - Lynn Hurst, 'Nature Morte'

My photographic work fits most simply in the category of still life. More
specifically it references, 17th century Vanitas painting in the juxtaposition of
material culture with objects from nature. These Flemish and Dutch painters
alluded to the moral and the metaphysical through a meticulous and sensual
depiction of objects— those symbolizing death, domesticity, wealth, and
worldliness. Exhibiting also a shared reliance on collecting (in my case, both
objects and pixels) this genre provides a space from which to comment on
issues surrounding privilege, the status derived from ownership, cultural
imperialism, and the politics of awarding value. It is an appropriate vehicle for
out times, one that is equally fixated on fear and consumption —ostentatious
display and the inexorability of death and decay.

[The time-consuming photographic and compositing process of the photographs in 'Nature Morte'] is important conceptually, not least of all, for its absurdity. The labour is often mind-numbingly repetitive, but is an action that serves to calm the limbic region of the brain and reduce anxiety. The obsessive and deceptive nature of the method mirrors a society obsessed by material culture and artificial beauty and is one perfected by the media to manipulate the unsuspecting. The Vanitas painters used their consummate craft and the still-life genre to cross-purposes. Ostensibly, their role was doctrinal, an imperative for  redemption. The works conveyed the moralistic assertion that all human achievement and the pursuit of earthly pleasures was worthless, a vanity. They served as memento mori, reminders of the transitory nature of life and the inevitability of death. However, at the same time they were, themselves, objects of pleasure— status symbols whose success was dependent on their aesthetic beauty, technical virtuosity and coded iconography.

Below: Lynn Hurst artist bio, as a document.
Lynn Hurst, from 'Nature Morte', Photospace Gallery Wellington New Zealand
Lynn Hurst, 'Cicada Girl' from 'Nature Morte'
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Photography Matters II
    by James Gilberd, owner of Photospace Gallery

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Friday Photo
    General
    Historic
    Puff Pieces
    Reviews

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Exhibitions
  • Artists
  • About
  • Links
  • Photo books
  • Blog
  • A Month of Sundays - Responses to the Covid-19 Lockdown