INTERNALISE & PAPER THIN
Matchbox Studios present two solo exhibitions; Internalise and Paper Thin by Wellington based artists Natalie Smith and
Ngarongo Phillips.
The exhibitions runs until Sunday 11th August
Internalise /
Natalie Smith
Internalise represents the human body in a diverse range of media, reflecting that our individuality is not only visible
through our exterior but also through our interior as each body is distinctly different from any other.
Fascinated with the connection between medical research and art throughout history, anatomical diagrams are used as
reference material for the work in this exhibition. The diagrams and drawings that educate us are reproduced into
gestural works where motif, gesture and repetition work in conjunction creating visual links throughout the exhibition.
Natalie is a multi-disciplinary artist who uses a range of media to explore her subject including, painting,
printmaking, textiles and sculpture. The celebration of process and the exploration of materials are key in her artistic
practice.
Paper Thin /
Ngarongo Phillips
The media perpetuates unrealistic ideas of “perfection” that lead to body misperceptions.
Ngarongo Phillips’ inquiry is about the notion of idealised beauty and the feminine body; cultural icon Barbie has been
the muse for her work.
Deconstructing Barbie and placing her in vulnerable and provocative positions Ngarongo manipulates her physical presence
to challenge the ideals she represents. Reconstructing her iconography and turning her into an undesirable object, each
work portrays a different perspective into the “plastic” world of Barbie, highlighting her highly sexualised persona.
This installation of 54 works represents the 54 years Barbie has been marketed and sold.
ENDS