45 pictures of the body: Paul Melser
21 May 2010
Artist Paul Melser, who is also well known for his decades of work as a potter, is presenting a shifting group of modular paintings based on “photos of bodies in conflict”, derived from news media.
“I’ve been collecting images over the past year that show people in situations of violence from all over the world – bodies in situations of extremity and distress,” says Paul. “We encounter these images on a daily basis in a very random way. Viewers will be able to identify some of the images, and they will be able to recognise some of them from their own recollection of the news.”
Paul, who works from his studio in rural Carterton, describes the 75cm square canvases that make up the artwork as ‘modules’. There will be 45 on the wall at any given time, with the configuration changing throughout the exhibition’s duration, to bring out different ‘conversations’ and relationships between the images in each.
As with his previous work, Paul is interested in how an image can be pared down to its elemental shape or form, yet still remain immediately recognisable and richly suggestive for the viewer: “I want to see how much detail you can withdraw but still retain the ability to reconstruct some narrative from the image.”
“I’ve been thinking about the way governments and institutional forces exact punishment on the body. Violence doesn’t persuade someone to change their ideas….but it’s always the body that takes the punishment!”
He sees painting in New Zealand as often concentrating solely on showing the virtuosity of the painter. “Instead, I wanted to explore ways in which painting can be a commentary on the wider world around us.” He has therefore deliberately used a simple, direct approach, very much like his approach to ceramics: “In my pots I try to avoid overstressing virtuosity and minimizing decoration to keep things simple. In these paintings I’ve tried to remove ‘showmanship’ from the work so that the subject matter is much more present.”
Based in rural Masterton, Paul Melser has worked as a full time potter, and graduated with a MFA Arts from Massey University in 2004. He is continuing his studies there and is currently working on a PhD. He has exhibited in group and solo shows at James Mack Gallery, Featherston and at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art & History.
45 pictures of the body: Paul Melser
22 May – 18 July Page 1 of 2
Also on at Aratoi:
* Hard on the Heels, Capturing the All Blacks – Peter Bush
Proudly sponsored by Canon New Zealand.
15 May – 11 July.
* Public Talk with Peter Bush: Walk the exhibition with legendary photojournalist Peter Bush and hear the fascinating stories from 60 years of capturing the All Blacks. Book at Aratoi by 25 May, P: 06 370 0001. Friday 28 May, 1pm (School groups) & 5pm (Rugby & photography fans).
* Go the Bush! Rugby memorabilia from the collections of local luminaries in the rugby world. 15 May – 4 July.
* I Want It Now!: King Street Artworks groups show: The annual exhibition by artists from this community art studio in Masterton. 8 May – 13 June.
Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art & History T: 06 370 0001 www.aratoi.co.nz.
Media enquiries: Anne Taylor M: 027 489 0704.
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