Media Release 2 November 2005
Neil Pardington – New photographs
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From The Clinic – Te Whare o Rangiora
The interior spaces of hospitals – described by the artist as a stage for life and death – provide Wellington
photographer Neil Pardington with the subject matter for his new exhibition opening at Bartley Nees Gallery next week
[Tuesday 8 November].
Medicine continues to provide inspiration for artists as it has over the centuries says Pardington. “It is a subject
that engenders strong reactions and emotions, because whatever happens, it is about life and death, and we know the
stakes could not be higher.”
The images - of operating theatres, postmortem rooms, a dissecting theatre and anatomy museum - seduce the viewer to
project their own stories into the photographs. Unease, disease; ease, cure: these images suggest an anxiety about the
unknown – what is around the corner, what has happened or is about to happen?
Pardington’s photography has been described as photography with a twist, photography that exposes the boundary between
the documentary and conceptual- telling stories that can never be known.
The Clinic – Te Whare o Rangiora, which has been supported by Creative New Zealand, is an ongoing project by this
talented photographer, designer and film-maker. Images from the series were selected for the two major public gallery
surveys of contemporary New Zealand art last year: Public/Private-Tumatanui/Tumataiti: The 2nd Auckland Trienniale and
Telecom Prospect 2004 at the City Gallery Wellington. A postmortem room image was purchased this year by leading British
artist Damian Hurst for his collection.
ENDS