NEIL DAWSON

Black Halos 15 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 1020 x 1175 x 245 mm

Black Halos 19 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 390 x 665 x 100 mm

Black Halos 18 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 875 x 870 x 130 mm

Black Halos 21 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 510 x 445 x 310 mm

Black Halos 24 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 500 x 450 x 325 mm

Black Halos 16 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 655 x 755 x 125 mm

Spikes (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 860 x 1290 x 130 mm

Spirit (2015) black flocking on MDF, size on wall: 695 x 2050 x 695 mm

Uccello’s Corner (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 1005 x 365 x 365 mm

Black Halos 17 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 835 x 835 x 175 mm

Black Halos 23 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 505 x 430 x 280 mm

Black Halos 22 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 550 x 430 x 250 mm

Black Halos 10 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 350 x 545 x 160 mm

Black Halos 20 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 345 x 400 x 340 mm

Black Halos 9 (2015) powdercoated steel, size on wall: 655 x 1335 x 220 mm

At first glance, Neil Dawson’s important newexhibition Negative Space might seem to be a radical departure and as such a complete reversal of his usual forms and approach, with no part of the linear outline now actually touching the wall. However his prominent use of architectural details returns aspects of these works to dialogues first prominentin his work from the 1970s.

Neil Dawson’s primaryaim in Negative Space is to get shape off the wall and have it supported (and contradicted) by content.

Each work has been finished in a black water-silk powdercoating which defines space by functioning as if drawn in air while simultaneously seeming to advance and recede. There is a marked change of weight happening in every work as space, scale and dimension is altered, subverted and reconfigured.

Dawson is building visual contradictions and in doing so using a 5th to 6th century halo design from a church in Southern Spain. The halo is comprised of three key design elements which he employs in numerous ways. They interlock, support, float and fly. Direction alters, scale is changed, halos are presented in full and inpart.

There are many allusions and illusions. An ecclesiastical narrative unites all of the work and directly informs the key visual contradiction being used between the circles of the halo shape and the cube or triangle surrounding, outlining and defining them.

The role of shadow is, as always in his work, fundamental and critical to the experience of what we see and how we see it. This ‘spirit presence’ extends further the wonderful hovering sensation present inall of the Black Halos.

The exhibition includes Spikes which refers to the preceding Cloud works and features two motifs referencing the Christchurch earthquake and church spires. Spirit is a substantial work, finished in black flocking, and is a replica of the Christchurch Cathedral spire.Itis a challenging work, imbued with the particular circumstance of its destruction, as it blurs in space. Uccello’s Corner, based on the 1430 Uccello drawing in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, is a wire frame drawing occupying the corner of a wall, the illusion sosuccessful that the viewer comprehends itin the round.

NEIL DAWSON

b. 1948, lives Christchurch

NeilDawson:Vortex5(2012)

From the recent Fanfare, the established Chalice in Christchurch's Cathedral Square and Ferns in Wellington's Civic Square, to Raindrops in Manchester, United Kingdom, and the Globe in Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, Neil Dawson's public artworks have become city icons. (1)

“Born and bred in NewZealand, Neil Dawsonis a sculptor of international standing. All of Dawson’s works emphatically echo aspects of this nation’s socio-cultural environments and, literally, elevate these in spatial celebrations that are at once accessible and challenging. A central achievement discernable in this sculptor’s work is his ability to embody in pure space, clusters of socio-cultural and global concerns.”(2)

Neil describes his workas "an obsession, like itis for the majority of artists," adding that he "continue[s] to be excited by new projects."In the 1998 catalogue for "Ferns," Jim and Mary Barr say his work offers a "multiplicity of views that people cancreate for themselves as they move beneath or around his sculptures," emphasising that while "Dawson has used the interplay of the constant and the serendipitous in many of his works, in the spheres the combination has proved inspiring." (3)

Born in Christchurch in1948, Dawson gained a Diploma of Fine Arts (Hons) from Canterbury University in 1970, and a Graduate Diploma in Sculpture from Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, in 1973. Dawson was awarded an Arts Laureate by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand in 2003 and in2006 held the Antarctica NZ Fellowship. His public commissions have beeninstalled in manyNew Zealand and Australian cities as well as in France, the United Kingdom, China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

1. Lee Suckling, 'The Sky's the Limit', Art News, Summer 2009

2. Dr Cassandra Fusco, Ways of seeing presence and absence – The work of Neil Dawson, Crafts Arts International No. 58, 2003

3. The Arts Foundation of New Zealand, 2003

NEILDAWSON

EDUCATION

b. 1948, lives Christchurch

1973 DipGrad (Sculpture), National Gallery of Victoria Art School, Melbourne, Australia

1971 DipTch, Christchurch College of Education, Christchurch

1970 DipFA (Hons), School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury, Christchurch

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015 Negative Space, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2014 Selected Works, milford galleries queenstown

On Hollowed Ground, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch

Spires, Page Blackie Gallery, Wellington

2013 Silver Linings, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2012 Orange Zone, Page Blackie Gallery, Wellington

2011 Pulse, Page Blackie Gallery, Wellington

Incident 1992/2011, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch

2010 Five Years, milford galleries queenstown

Deck: Second Hand, Milford Galleries Dunedin

Deck: Three of a Kind, Page Blackie Gallery, Wellington

2009

2008

Deck: First Cut, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch

Old/New/Borrowed/Blue, Milford Galleries Dunedin

Selected Works, milford galleries queenstown

2007 Vanishing Points, Anna Bibby Gallery, Auckland

Recent Sculptures, milford galleries queenstown

New Work, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch

2006 Thoughts on Ice, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington

2005 Craters, Anna Bibby Gallery, Auckland

2004

2003

Recent Wall Sculptures, Milford Galleries Dunedin

Wall Sculpture 2004, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch

New Wall Sculptures, Peter Webb Galleries, Auckland

Wall Sculptures, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington

2002 Domes, City Art, Christchurch

1994 Steps and Stages, Jonathan Jensen Gallery, Christchurch

1993

New Work, Jonathan Jensen Gallery, Christchurch

1992 Incident, Luba Bilu Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

Jonathan Jensen Gallery, Christchurch

Infomuse Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

1991 Sue Crockford Gallery, Auckland

Jonathan Jensen Gallery, Christchurch

1989 Neil Dawson Site Works 1981-89, National Art Gallery, Wellington

Sue Crockford Gallery, Auckland

Jonathan Jensen Gallery, Christchurch

Luba Bilu Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

1988 Sue Crockford Gallery, Auckland

Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney, Australia

1987 Sue Crockford Gallery, Auckland

Site Related Work 1981-87, Centre For Contemporary Art, Hamilton

1986 Janne Land Gallery, Wellington

Overhead Hardware, Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch

1985 Mirrors, Bosshard Gallery, Dunedin

New Wall Works, Denis Cohn Gallery, Auckland

1984 Sunset Constructions, Denis Cohn Gallery, Auckland

Rock Constructions, Brooke Gifford Gallery, Dunedin

1982 Holes, Robinson Brooker Gallery, Christchurch

Land Escapes, Denis Cohn Gallery, Auckland

1981 Here and There, Denis Cohn Gallery, Auckland

Escapes, Peter McLeavey Gallery, Wellington

Boundaries, Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch

1980 Recent Series, Denis Cohn Gallery, Auckland

Here and There, New Zealand Chancellery, Washington DC, USA

1979 Interiors, Elva Bett Gallery, Wellington

Order/Chaos, Bosshard Gallery, Dunedin

1978 House Alterations, Brooke-Gifford Gallery, Christchurch

1975 3 Black Holes, CSA Gallery, Christchurch

1972-73 Pinacotheca Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2015 New Works, milford galleries queenstown

2014 Significant Works, Milford Galleries Dunedin

The Royal Queenstown Easter Show, milford galleries queenstown

2013 Small Works, Milford Galleries Dunedin

2012 Significant Works, Milford Galleries Dunedin

Small Works, milford galleries queenstown

2011 Parallel, Milford Galleries Dunedin

Gems, milford galleries queenstown

2010 Bloom, milford galleries queenstown

2009 Dawson, Petre, Arnold ‘Recent Works, milford galleries queenstown Masterworks, milford galleries queenstown

2008 Neil Dawson, Ralph Hotere, Pat Hanly, milford galleries auckland Masterworks, milford galleries queenstown

2006 Masterworks, milford galleries queenstown

Tribute, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland

Birds, Pataka, Porirua

2004 Cutouts, Anna Bibby Gallery, Auckland

Project 04, Peter Webb Galleries, Auckland

2003 Sculpture on the Gulf, Waiheke Island

1995 H2O, Dowse Art Gallery, Lower Hutt

1994 Art Now, Museum of New Zealand, Wellington

Virtual Reality, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

1993 Canopy, Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

1992 Wellington Festival Exhibition, Gow Langsford Gallery, Wellington Prospect Canterbury, Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch

1991 Review 1991, Luba Bilu Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

1989 Magiciens de la Terre, Musee National d’Art Moderne, Paris, France

1988 NZ Xl, Auckland City Art Gallery

From the Southern Cross, Sydney Biennale, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia

1986 Aspects of Recent New Zealand Art: Sculpture, Auckland Art Gallery

Content /Context, National Art Gallery, Wellington

1985 Six New Zealand Artists, Perspecta ’85, Mori Gallery, Sydney, Australia

Better than Collecting Dust, Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North

Chance & Change: A Century of the Avant-Garde, Auckland Art Gallery

1980 4 New Zealand Sculptors, Sargeant Gallery, Wanganui

1978 Platforms, CSA Gallery, Christchurch

Seventh Mildura Sculpture Triennial, Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura, Australia

Little Works, Auckland Art Gallery

1974 Environmental Structures, Christchurch Arts Festival

SELECTED INSTALLATIONS & PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

2015 Fanfare, State Highway 1 at Chaneys Corner, Christchurch

2014 Spires, Latimer Square, Christchurch

Toss, Victoria University, Wellington

2013 Boats and Birds, ANZ Tower, Auckland

2012 Feather from Afar, International Finance Centre, Shanghai, China

2010 Feather and Ripples, Christchurch City Council Building

Sky Len, Guthrey Plaza, Cashell Mall, Christchurch

Cubes, St Andrew’s College, Christchurch

2009 Feather, Two Paddocks Winery, Central Otago

2006

Anchor, Victoria Point, Docklands, Melbourne, Australia

Wellsphere, Gouldon Square, Rochdale Road, Manchester, UK

2005 Bomber Command, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia

H2O, Lincoln University, Lincoln

Mahana Ceiling Dome, Woollaston Estate Winery, Motueka

Raindrops, Lumiere Building, Manchester, UK

2004 Fanfare, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia

2003 Chevron, Kate Edger Commons, University of Auckland

2002

2001

Corro Dome, Private Commission, Sydney, Australia

Lapped Sphere, Christchurch Girls’ High School

Suntrap, Hastings District Council, Hastings

Diamonds, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia

Other People’s Houses, Private Commission, Waiheke Island

Flying Steps, Hunter Courtyard, Victoria University, Wellington

Cones, Dunedin Public Art Gallery

Chalice, Cathedral Square, Christchurch

2000 Skies, West Main Entry Artwork, Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia

1999 Sphere, Cone, Cylinder, Designworks, Wellington

Starferns, APEC conference, Auckland Town Hall

Feathers, East Main Entry Artwork, Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia

Ripples and Rays, Clear Communications, Takapuna, Auckland

1998 Ferns, Wellington Civic Square, Wellington

Expansion, Pyne Gould Corporation, Christchurch

Plumage, Phileo Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Butterflies, Phileo Avenue, Kuala Lumpur

Tranquillity, Tsing Yi MTR Station, Hong Kong

Flora, Private Commission, Governors Bay

1997

Vanishing Stairs, Phileo Promenade, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Leafsphere, Wisma Perkasa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1996 Decoy Feathersphere, Private Commission, Te Horo

Decoy Down, Private Commission, Te Horo

Majestic Earth, Majestic Centre, Wellington

1995 Down, Private Commission, Auckland

Canoe, SkyCity Casino, Auckland

1994 Steps, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia

Nor’West Arch, Lincoln University, Lincoln

Kahu, Takahanga Marae, Kaikoura

Horizons, Private Commission, Kaukapakapa

Different Skies, Osaka Business Park, Japan

Flying Chairs, Private Commission, Kaukapakapa

Globe, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia

1993 Lens, Petrocorp Building, New Plymouth

Untitled, High Court of New Zealand, Wellington

Flying Chairs, Sculpture in the Gardens, Christchurch

Canopy, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

1992 Snap, Adelaide Festival Centre, Australia

Wave Screens, Private Commission, Auckland

Throwback, Albert Park, Auckland

Echo (re-installation), Arts Centre, Christchurch

Globe Installation, Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland

Vertigo, Gallery Kobayashi, Tokyo, Japan

Perception Room, Capital Discovery Place, Wellington

1991 Orb, Private Commission, Taranaki

Awakenings, Hastings Boys High School

Jetset Globe, Jetset Tours Building, Melbourne, Australia

Spectra, Aotea Centre, Auckland

1990 Macaw Feather, Private Commission, Wellington

Leadlight, Private Commission, Wellington

Blue/Green, The Bath House, Rotorua

Globe Down Under, Sargeant Gallery, Wanganui

Featherlight, Aotea Centre Foyer, Auckland

1989 Globe, Musee National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France

Framework, National Art Gallery, Wellington

Get the Picture, Wellington Railway Station

1988 Vanity 1, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Vanity 2, Melbourne Concert Hall, Melbourne, Australia

Featherlight, Methodist Trust Association Building, Auckland

1987 Ripples, Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton

Plumbobs, Private Commission, Christchurch

1986 Going for Broke, Govett Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth

1984 The Rock, Bank of New Zealand Centre, Wellington

Paper, Scissors, Rock, Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch

5 Large Works, Graduate Centre Mall, City University of New York, USA

Lightwell, Private Commission, Wellington

1982 Echo, Arts Centre, Christchurch

Vanishing Points, Auckland City Art Gallery

Reflections, National Art Gallery, Wellington

1980 Street Show: Street Grid, Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch Airspace, Wairarapa Arts Centre, Masterton

1979 Seascape Installation, Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch

SELECTED AWARDS

2006

Antarctica New Zealand Arts Fellowship, Antarctica

2004 Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

2003 Laureate Award, New Zealand Arts Foundation

1985 Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Establishment Grant

1980 Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Travel Grant

1972 Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Grant

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2011 Wolfe, Richard and Stephen Robinson, Artists At Work, Penguin Books, London, England

2009 Suckling, Lee, The Sky’s the Limit, Art News, Summer 2009, pp 52 – 55

2006 Mane-Wheoki, Jonathon, Laureate Feature – Neil Dawson, Applause, Arts Foundation of New Zealand, pp7

2005 Blundell, Sally, The Outsider, The Listener, November 26 2005, pp 44 & 46 2003 Fusco, Dr. Cassandra, Ways of Seeing Presence and Absence- The Work of Neil Dawson, Craft Arts International, Number 58 2003 pp 34 – 412000 Caughey, Elizabeth and John Gow, Contemporary New Zealand Art 2, Auckland; David Bateman, 1997, pp 52 – 55

1996 Brown, Warwick, Another 100 NZ Artists, Godwit Press 1996, pp 26

NeilDawson:BlueRetreatSweep(2010)