Ian Kingsford-Smith in Pilgrimage Prints

Ian Kingsford-Smith

Pilgrimage Prints

Studio One Toi Tu,1 Ponsonby Road, Newtown, Auckland

Opening Wednesday 21st October at 5pm in Gallery Two
Runs from Wednesday 21st October to Friday 13th November 2015

Gallery hours: Monday to Thursday: 9am – 7pm. Friday: 9am – 5pm and Saturday: 10am – 4pm.

Our lives are punctuated by events that take on symbolic significance. The role of these types of events within the narration of our lives is a central theme of the exhibition. There is a continuum between our lingering need to narrate our lives and the historic role of myth in comprehending the significance of collective experiences. Drawing on insights from comparative mythology, experiences have been isolated that have historically been attributed with symbolic significance by diverse cultures, such as the ‘Warmth of Others’ or ‘Touch the Ocean’. The works in the exhibition focus on the connectedness of humankind, the mystery and magic of human experiences and the five elements: earth, water, fire, wind and void.

The fifteen intaglio etchings are mounted and framed each 32 x 42cm.

Artist Biography

Kingsford-Smith sees himself as a visual storyteller. “In my art practice,” he says, “history, personal history, memory, family records, ambitions, fantasy, dreams, mythology and spirituality” all combine to create enigmatic narratives. They are detailed but do not tell one explicit story, rather they tap into the viewer’s imagination and evoke a multitude of possible storylines. Each of Kingsford-Smith’s images evokes a larger story and meaning through his ability to play subtly with color, line and scale. Working in a variety of media, from etchings, to acrylics and oils on wood, to linocuts, Kingsford-Smith says that employing such a range of materials gives him the opportunity to realise his vision and bring it vividly to life for the viewer.

Ian Kingsford-Smith is a fulltime artist working in Sydney. He has studied painting with a number of leading New Zealand painters including Colin McCahon, Michael Smither and Toss Woollaston.

Ian has had solo exhibitions at Sheffer Gallery, Sydney 2015, (Mappa Vitae) GAFFA, Sydney 2014 (Pilgrimage), Global Gallery 2013 (Dreams in Captivity), 2012 (Australian Stories) 2011 (Dingoes) 2010 (Trees on Paper) and group exhibitions in painting and printmaking in New York, Melbourne and Cairns. Previously he has had solo and group exhibitions in Auckland, Dunedin and Palmerston North. His work is represented in private and corporate collections in USA, Sweden, France, Germany, Wales, England, New Zealand and Australia.

www.iankingsfordsmith.com

ENDS

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