Artistic Systems at The Dowse

Bill Culbert Light Plain 1997 Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2000

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: 16 September 2013

Artistic Systems at The Dowse

The repetition in Bill Culbert’s installation Light Plain duplicates the function of a simple office lamp to create a huge glowing roof of light. It’s just one of the dynamic artworks in a new exhibition at The Dowse that explores the systems and structures artists use to generate their work. As Many Structures As I Can, opening 12 October, features painting, sculpture, video and photography by fourteen artists, all drawn from the remarkable collection of the Chartwell Trust. The artists are: Fiona Amundsen, Steve Carr, Selina Foote, Gavin Hipkins, Sara Hughes, Simon Ingram, Emily Kame Jngwarreye, Richard Killeen, Laresa Kosloff, Gabriella Mangano, Silvana Mangano, Michael Parekowhai, Justene Williams and Culbert.

Simon Ingram’s paintings are the result of what he describes as ‘a painting machine’, a robotic system which enacts a series of steps to create his paintings for him. Ingram will be at The Dowse to create three works with his machine and members of the public will be able to join him on the opening Saturday to see a new painting created.

The title As Many Structures As I Can comes from a video work by Richard Maloy in which the artist is seen sculpting butter with his hands, each block initially stubbornly resistant then surrendering. Maloy’s efforts to control the butter and create forms from it are both hilarious and visceral.

Based in Melbourne, Australian artists Gabriella Mangano and Silvana Mangano are identical twins. Drawing 1, their first video collaboration, sees the sisters exploit our preconceptions of twin-ship to develop collaborative mirrored drawings. Again in a form of doubling, Laressa Kosloff utlises hurdles as theatrical props in Agility Drill, an event where she adopts the role of sports coach for a fellow performer, with slapstick precision.

The Chartwell Collection is a collection of contemporary art from New Zealand and Australia, held on long term loan at the Auckland Art Gallery since 1997. Trustees, father and daughter Rob and Sue Gardiner are the driving force behind the collection which was founded in 1974. “The collection development and philanthropic programmes of the Chartwell Trust must now constitute one of the most determined and ambitious programmes of any private charitable trust anywhere in the world,” Chris Saines.

Bill Culbert’s Front Door Out Back is currently representing New Zealand at the 2013 Venice Biennale, the world’s most prestigious contemporary art event.

As Many Structures As I Can
19 October 2013 – 16 February 2014
The Dowse Art Museum | FREE ENTRY
www.dowse.org.nz

ENDS

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