Fiona Pardington’s Ars Moriendi
Painters of the Roman Empire are considered to have codified the genre of still-life painting. Described at times as
vanitas - their images were often accompanied by the sobering axiom Death makes us all equal. Everything being equal Fiona Pardington’s long-time fascination with bringing to life inanimate objects has lately
come alive with virtuoso, and baroque-evoking, still-lifes.
Opening at {Suite} Gallery on 8 August 2012 is “Flora, Fauna”, an exhibition of six new Pardington still-life works. The
decadent and luminous compositions include, amongst other things, Dolphin vertebrae, gecko skin, Karaka drupes, passion
fruit, seaweed and figs.
Pardington is New Zealand’s premier contemporary photographer. She has received many fellowships, residencies, awards
and grants including the Moet & Chandon Fellow (France) in 1991-92, the Frances Hodgkins Fellow in both 1996 and 1997, the Ngai Tahu residency at Otago
Polytechnic in 2006 and an Arts Foundation Laureate Award in 2011. Born in Devonport, New Zealand and of Kai Tahu, Kati
Mamoe and Scottish descent, Pardington lives and works in Waiheke Island, New Zealand. She holds an MFA (First Class
Honours) in photography from the University of Auckland.
Exhibition details:
Fiona Pardington
“Flora, Fauna”
8 August – 1 September
Level 2/147 Cuba Street
Wellington
ENDS