Lore & Behold 2014

A5 postcard of Lore & Behold

"They say that ‘the eyes are windows to the soul’ that is certainly true of this new series of oil paintings.- Artis Gallery".

Each of these figurative works draw in the viewer to scratch at the soul beneath. The narratives display a historical element familiar to earlier work (‘Pakeha’ 2011) and spin dark tales of personal turmoil, judgement, revenge, debauchery, stoicism and sorrow. Depictions of notable persons are: Te Kooti in ‘The Upraised Hand’, Maraea Morete (Maria Morris) in ‘Salvation’ and a haunting likeness of Katherine Mansfield in ‘Postscript’. Fauna also play a considerable part in this show with an array of birds, sheep, horses, dogs and eels making appearance as special guests. These companions communicate a level of symbiotic understanding between mankind and animal where each require the other in order to survive, physically for them and spiritually for us.

Katherine Mansfield, tattooing her own chin with typewriter limited edition
Postscript

61 x 50.5 cm, Oil on Linen, 2013

Painting of Maraea Morete, champion of the early Salvationist movement.
Salvation

61 x 50.5 cm, Oil on Linen, 2014

Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki (Gisborne, c. 1832-1893) Rongowhakaata iwi.
The Upraised Hand

61 x 50.5 cm, Oil on Linen, 2013

Painting of woman standing on a floating piano while her house burns
Memento Mori

75 x 60cm, Oil on Linen, 2013 

Painting of woman being tattoed by Huia as the last of their species
Requiem for the feathered

102 x 137 cm, Oil on Canvas, 2011

Four related women holding implements of protection as they stand over their domain
Brides of None

76 x 91 cm, Oil on Linen, 2013 

Lothario sits at home with his dogs, meat and memories by Liam Barr
Lothario

121 x 101 cm, Oil on Linen, 2013 

River Goddess (Wahine Atua) guides the eel to the sea
Spirit me gently to the sea

83.5 x 71 cm, Oil on Linen, 2013 

Painting of a woman smoking a cigarette on a hillside with foot on a sheep gazing into the distance
Contemplace

85 x 98 cm, Oil on Linen, 2013