SIMON CLARK

SIMON CLARK A New Coat of Paint

Preview Friday 18th June from 5:30pm - Artist will Attend

19th June - 14th July, 2010

www.milfordgalleries.co.nz

Milford Galleries Dunedin 18 Dowling Street (03) 477 7727 info@milfordhouse.co.nz

1. SIMON CLARK, Carbine Road (2009) oil on

n board, panel (v x h x d): 1000 x 1320 x 45mm

2. SIMON CLARK, All (2009), oil on board, panel (v x h): 1320 x 1000 x 45 mm

2. DETAIL VIEW SIMON CLARK, All (2009)

3. SIMON CLARK, If You Can Make a Cake You Can Bake a Loaf (2009)

oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 1320 x 1000 x 45 mm

3. DETAIL VIEW SIMON CLARK, If You Can Make a Cake You Can Bake a Loaf (2009)

4. SIMON CLARK, So Nice to be Young in Cardigans (2009)

oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 1320 x 1000 x 45 mm

4. DETAIL VIEW SIMON CLARK, So Nice to be Young in Cardigans (2009)

5. SIMON CLARK, Tip Top (2010), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 2000 x 1200 x 45 mm

5. DETAIL VIEW SIMON CLARK, Tip Top (2010)

6. SIMON CLARK, 100% Prime New Zealand Beef (After Cotton) (2010)

oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 1315 x 1000 x 45 mm

6. DETAIL VIEW SIMON CLARK, 100% Prime New Zealand Beef (After Cotton) (2010)

7. SIMON CLARK, Ranch Slider (2009), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 1320 x 1000 x 45 mm

7. DETAIL VIEW SIMON CLARK, Ranch Slider (2009)

8. SIMON CLARK, Half Back (2010) oil on bo

oard, panel (v x h x d): 1000 x 1310 x 45 mm

9. SIMON CLARK Endeavour (2009), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 810 x 1100 x 45 mm

10. SIMON CLARK Five Thirty for Seven (2010), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 1000 x 1314 x 45 mm

11. SIMON CLARK, Ranch Slider #2 (2009), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 301 x 301 x 45 mm

12. SIMON CLARK, Things Could be Worse (2009), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 301 x 301 x 45 mm

13. SIMON CLARK, New Zealand Brand (2003-09), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 710 x 710 x 33 mm

14. SIMON CLARK, Best China (Half Back) (2010), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 185 x 350 x 45 mm

15. SIMON CLARK, Best China (Sub Division) (2010), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 185 x 350 x 45 mm

16. SIMON CLARK, Best China (Day Tripper) (2010), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 185 x 350 x 45 mm

17. SIMON CLARK, Best China (More Alive) (2010), oil on board, panel (v x h x d): 185 x 350 x 45 mm

Simon Clark’s paintings are a collision of cultural artefact and text and conjure mythical stories through associations within their subject matter. Clark explores the role of kiwiana in a cultural context, asking why and how it has become a part of New Zealand’s history and identity. His paintings portray re-constructed realities, memories unfolding, and histories evolving. Areas of layered, darkened spaces surrounding vivid, glowing images, reveal a nostalgic longing for what once was but now has changed.

Text and image relationships are central to Simon Clark’s paintings. Instead of labelling or defining the meaning of the work, words open up endless possibilities for the viewer to explore. The phrase “Five Thirty for Seven” refers to the dinner party invites of the 1950s, and spurs conversations about codes of behaviour, but it also has an intriguing, ambiguous quality and the viewer is left asking “what does it mean?” Like the past, the meanings of his paintings aren’t tied down or fixed, but change with experience. And although everybody will have a unique interpretation of the works, Clark presents objects of kiwiana that are instantly recognisable to all, referring to a shared past or collective memory.

Visually, ‘Ranch Slider’ is strangely recognisable, maybe a pie label, or even a religious portrait. The name resonates with the classic sliding door on the family’s kiwi batch yet when placed in relation to this glowing cowboy ‘Ranch Slider’ has farming connotations. The product of a strong culture of beef and sheep farming in New Zealand, here Clark thrusts the Kiwi pie-eating man into an iconic status.

The explorative nature of kiwi culture is glorified in the ironic and wittily titled ‘Endeavor’. A candy-coloured caravan and car travel along the painting through hazy patterns often found on 1960s biscuit tins, but also the shape of cogs and wheels. Placenames of New Zealand towns are jotted carefully over the surface forming topography with text as a stylised sun glows in the distance and memories of childhood holidays play in one’s mind.

Influenced by his surroundings ‘Carbine Road’ is motivated by his experiences of working in the factories in Mt Wellington during his school holidays. The brands of New Zealand industry are stamped on the background of the work, where images of the Chesdale Cheese brothers and Frosty Boy are placed. There is a Pacific feel to this work- a doll is captured in a recognisable dancing pose, adorning a grass skirt.

The surfaces of Simon Clark’s paintings are highly glossed and finely finished, yet areas are scratched away, over-painted and layers of what once was are only glimpsed through the darkened backgrounds. Other areas of the work glow and shine with a hyper-real quality. Looking closely at the murky background of “If You Can Make a Cake, You Can Bake a Loaf”, one begins to see the many layers of colour and paint that have been peeled back, scratched away, re-painted and built up. A familiar figure, a doll of times past glows brightly in the centre of the work. As with all of his paintings, Clark’s works evolve and like memories, some areas are clear and lucid while others have changed or disappeared.

It is easy to become entranced and entangled within the many stories and narratives in these works. Not only because elements of the work are recognisable and “close to home” giving each viewer a very personal experience but also because they have a seductive, slick and stimulating visual quality.

EXHIBITION PRICELIST

1 Carbine Road (2009)

6,000

2 All (2009)

6,000

3 If You Can Make a Cake You Can Bake a Loaf (2009)

6,000

4 So Nice to be Young in Cardigans (2009)

6,000

5 Tip Top (2010)

8,500

6 100% Prime New Zealand Beef (After Cotton) (2010)

6,000

7 Ranch Slider (2009)

6,000

8 Half Back (2010)

6,000

9 Endeavour (2009)

4,000

10 Five Thirty for Seven (2010)

6,000

11 Ranch Slider #2 (2009)

1,250

12 Things Could be Worse (2009)

1,250

13 New Zealand Brand (2003-09)

3,000

14 Best China (Half Back) (2010)

750

15 Best China (Sub Division) (2010)

750

16 Best China (Day Tripper) (2010)

750

17 Best China (More Alive) (2010)

750

All prices are NZD and include GST; Prices are current at the time of the exhibition

SIMON CLARK b. 1955, lives Auckland EDUCATION Master Fine Arts (First Class Hons) Certificate Graphic Design

University of Auckland Auckland Technical Institute

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2009 2002 1996

A New Coat of Paint Happiland Fence

Milford Galleries Dunedin Grantham Gallery, Auckland Auckland Society of Arts, Auckland

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2009 2006

2003 2002 2002 2001

Journeys Essence Object Wallace Trust Art Award Wallace Trust Art Award Group Show Summer Hanging Happiland Artists’ Choice Masters Exhibition

2001 2000

Provenance Masters Exhibition

2000 2000 1999 1995 1994 1994 1991 1989 1988

Kare Kare Summer Hanging Nobby Clark: Simon Clark Staff from the School of Art and Design Staff from the School of Art and Design Gallery 1 Staff from the School of Art and Design Beecham Laboratory Art Award Beecham Laboratory Art Awards

2005-06 2005

MG, Auckland milford galleries auckland Milford Galleries Dunedin Pataka, Museum of Art and Culture, Wellington Centre of Contemporary Art, Christchurch Matakana Warkworth Gallery, Auckland Grantham Gallery, Auckland Grantham Gallery, Auckland Mt Eden Gallery, Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland George Fraser Gallery, University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland Chiaroscuro Gallery, Auckland Auckland Society of Arts, Auckland Morgan Street Gallery, Auckland Morgan Street Gallery, Auckland Auckland Society of Arts Russian Gallery, Auckland Auckland Society of Arts Gallery, Auckland Auckland Society of Arts Gallery, Auckland

AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS 2005 1999 1992 1990 1989 1988 1983

Finalist Wallace Trust Art Awards Finalist Wallace Trust Art Awards Auckland Savings Bank Award to visit the Swire School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic, Hong Kong, to study Tertiary Art and Design Management Bronze Medal for services toward the design of the 1990 New Zealand Commonwealth Games Winning Entry Beecham Research Laboratory Art Award (National) Highly Commended Beecham Research Laboratory Art Award (National) Album Cover of the Year Award, The New Zealand Music Awards

Simon Clark 2010 CV P a g e |1

Milford Galleries Dunedin

www.milfordgalleries.co.nz