'What you see is what you see' - joint exhibition in Nelson

I’m looking forward to my first joint exhibition at Quiet Dog Gallery in Nelson. I’ll be exhibiting alongside three Nelson artists - Stan Bowski, Kathaleen Bartha and Simon Hunter - in an exhibition of abstract minimalist art.

What You See is What You See features four artists who work in the field of abstraction and minimalism - the degree of minimalism varies but it’s a common theme across all of the work. And in my case the paintings I have in this exhibition are at the more minimal end of the spectrum for me. I love minimalism but I find it very challenging to achieve. It takes a high degree of control to stop without adding just a little detail more. And there’s no room to hide either - with so few elements on a painting, getting something a little ‘off’ can be very unforgiving. As a result, these paintings show a degree of simplicity that belies the time and effort taken to get them to this point - if only I could make them as easily as it seems!

Some of my paintings in What You See is What You See. There will also be work by Stan Bowski, Kathaleen Bartha and Simon Hunter.

The exhibition opens Friday April 19th, and it runs until 18th May 2024. If you happen to be in Nelson on the right day please come along to the opening and say hi. I’ll be there.

This exhibition brings together four artists who strive for simplicity and order in their work.  All are influenced by the Abstract Minimalist movement that began in America in the late 1950's.  The artworks are not representative of anything else, such as a landscape or a still life.  They highlight the materials the work is made from and a simple composition. The rectangle or square are favoured forms and the work relies on the qualities of repetition, line and precision. The title of the exhibition is a quote from Frank Stella, a key innovator in the abstract minimalist movement.  When looking at the work "what you see is what you see".   

The full exhibition catalogue will be available on the Quiet Dog Gallery website, if you’d like to purchase online.

I’ll add more images after the exhibition has opened.

What You See is What You See
19th April - 18th May 2024

Quiet Dog Gallery
33 Wakatu Lane
Nelson
New Zealand