WORKS 2020
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STU.ART ROBERTSON
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Stuart Robertson exhibition
opening speech infront of ‘The Exquisite Clarity of Standing Together’ 7m x 2m wall installation
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“Humanity is enormously powerful. Our actions and thoughts today create our future tomorrow. Each of your actions & thoughts has a subtle yet profound ripple effect. We are each responsible for, and have the ability to choose, how we influence that ripple.� Stuart Robertson 4
ARTISTS BIO STUART ROBERTSON Born 1969, Auckland, New Zealand Contemporary artist, adventurer and humanitarian Stuart Robertson melds photography, sculpture, film, symbolism and social media with cast glass, neon light boxes & metal fabrication to create stunning large scale art works that speak profoundly to the viewer, causing a confrontation of ones own preconceptions and an acknowledgement of our similarities in the human condition. Creating a global conversation and ripple effect with more than half a million followers, he draws on the phenomenal power of modern social networks and instant border-less communication that makes mankind more connected than ever before in history. Robertson has developed and refined his practice over 30 years. His works have become highly collectable and now hang in many established art collections throughout New Zealand, the USA and Europe as his profile continues to gain significant momentum globally. The artists passion for seeing the world through an alternate view runs deep. His grandfathers were both prolific photographers with their own darkrooms and camera collections. Their love for the medium underpins the artist’s own obsession.
The Artist, in his Studio in Queenstown, New Zealand
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TRIGGER LIGHTBOX
The conflict and tapestry of his life was etched onto every surface of his body and he ensured it was ‘tagged’ on his surrounding environment. Trigger made for an imposing character who held the rose only for the hope of a better future for his children. He was shot and killed in Los Angeles in October 2014, as far as we know this was one of the last portraits taken of Trigger.
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EN DORSED
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PEACE IN 10,000 HANDS The global art project Since 2012 reouned artist & humanitarian adventurer Stuart Robertson, has been photographing a single white rose, an ancient symbol of peace, in the hands of 10,000 people from every country on the planet. An evocative and unstoppable global art project, creating a visual provocation to challenge and reinvigorate the conversation for peace. Creating contemporary artworks which speak profoundly to our similariites in the human condition.
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NEONS NEONS Make Time Neon Scottish beauty, Louise nestled in a glorious pink rhododendron bush in full bloom. The moment etched with the crisp bite of a Queenstown morning she shared the mantras and inscriptions of her life as a reminder to live life fully, to MAKETIME. Everyday. Every moment. “Peace means finding true happiness within yourself. Make time, live life” Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1500mm x 1500mm x 70mm Materials: Giclée archival print, hand blown glass lettering, coral pink neon, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 11
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True Love in Red Neon New Plymouth, on the East Coast of New Zealand, a town that sits in the shadow of the famous mountain and potent lands filled with the history of the passive resistance movement. Nikki lived an intense life, her attire a reflection of the addictive parts of the human condition. Authentic and vulnerable the demonstration of her defiance and strength. A colourful life, with a good heart. Your one love. Truelove. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Hand blown glass lettering, red neon, giclĂŠe archival print, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 6
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Sick Fuck in Blue Neon The hands of an LA Gang Member. Location and identification confidential. 187. I am always observing and often intrigued by the choices we make as individuals to protect ourselves through adornments, material possessions, verbal and emotional armour. We all put up various forms of walls to tell the world how far away from those walls we want people to stay. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: GiclĂŠe archival print, hand blown glass lettering, blue neon, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 6
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Born Free Neon I have loved neon since a child and always wanted to work with it. In this series I identify people who resonate with meaningful phrases so strongly they choose to tattoo their knuckles. Transmuting the tapestry of their minds onto one of the most visible parts of the human body. I find the desire to brand oneself with powerful words of inspiration or desperation fascinating. In this study the use of neon illuminates the dark recesses of the subject’s mind, turning private beliefs into contemporary provocation. I desire a free sprit and ‘bornfree’ resonates with me. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Giclée archival print, hand blown glass lettering, white neon, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 11 14
Stay Down Neon ‘Stay Down’ as powerful as the fists tattooed with this command and…. not a request. Envisage a bold and striking French woman with a mind requiring expression through embedded body modification, crafted with artistry and beauty. As intense, elaborate and fascinating to me as the language she spoke. A woman who knows exactly who she is, and what she wants. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Giclée archival print, hand blown glass lettering, amber neon, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 6
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Love Hate Neon The hands of an LA Gang Member. Location and identification confidential. 187. I am always observing and often intrigued by the choices we make as individuals to protect ourselves through adornments, material possessions, verbal and emotional armour. We all put up various forms of walls to tell the world how far away from those walls we want people to stay. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: GiclĂŠe archival print, hand blown glass lettering, red & blue neon, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 11
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Hope Neon We found ‘hope’ amongst throngs of young people celebrating a sunny Sunday in Brick Lane, London, music, markets, people watching, sitting in open windows, on the curb, anywhere to soak up the sun and relax before the work week started. Etched on her knuckles the word HOPE, a silent testament and daily reminder to never give up. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Giclée archival print, hand blown glass lettering, off white neon, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 6
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Illusion Neon I have loved neon since a child and always wanted to work with it. In this series I identify people who resonate with meaningful phrases so strongly they choose to tattoo their knuckles. Transmuting the tapestry of their minds onto one of the most visible parts of the human body. I find the desire to brand oneself with powerful words of inspiration or desperation fascinating. In this study, the use of neon and symbolism of the white rose illuminates the dark recesses of the subject’s mind, turning private beliefs into contemporary provocation. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: GiclÊe archival print, hand blown glass lettering, red neon, black acrylic box mount Limited Edition of 11
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Stay True Neon Simple to the point from a straight up guy who lived by these two words, we all should. “Do to others as you would have them do to you” Griffin, Venice Beach, Los Angeles Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Giclée archival print, hand blown glass lettering, electric blue neon, aluminum box mount Limited Edition of 5
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Peacock Lightbox Hot rocking beats, LA, Century City Robert Keith designs jewellery, fashion and art. He wears his art. He was an enormous amount of fun to work with on this photo shoot, amenable and adventurous with the rose and what peace meant to him. “peace means to me the collective state of conciousness when humans, in their natural state, stripped of all external stimulous, material and circumstances, reach the common vibration of a harmonious and undescribable understanding in relation to the state of reality in which they are travelling through� 1500mm x 1000mm x 70mm Photographic transparency & archival lighbox, powdercoated aluminium frame in white Limited Edition of 6
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LIGHT
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Grant Bowler Lightbox This striking image is the culmination of a walk around Venice Beach on a hot So Cal day, talking about peace, talking about home & living in LA as an actor. Grants passion for peace shows through the strength of his masculinity and the protection of a simple truth. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1500mm x 50mm Materials: Photographic transparency & archival lightbox, powder coated aluminium frame in black Limited Edition of 9
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London Blue Lightbox Brick Lane, London, always has a plethora of outrageously dressed and thinking characters. Siobhan stood out as she dashed along the street. Bright blue hair and matching clothes expressing the creative tapestry of her mind. ‘Peace means freedom’ Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1500mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Photographic transparency & archival lightbox, powder coated aluminium frame in black. Limited Edition of 6
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Fight For Me Lightbox The journey through Turkey along Armenian, Iranian, Iraq and Syrian boarders, has been one of the toughest of the project. Iraq was the destination. Staying uninvited in Muslim villages along the way. A foreign place where even locals were challenged on exact direction and hospitality to offer. Abduction and physical threats were discussed as a real possibility. I passed through Cizre travelling to Iraq. Alone, with a driver and unassisted. To understand the challenge, fear and determination, grab your phone now and Google Cizre, look through images. This image was taken on this journey. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Photographic tran Lightbox Fight for meŠ Stuart Robertson Peace in 10,000 Handssparency & archival lightbox, powder coated aluminium frame in black Limited Edition of 9
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Wisdom of the Harakeke Lightbox “I believe in another beginning. Time, things don’t happen quick, you move with caution because if you rush across the ground you’re liable to stub your toe on a rock. When you pick a flower you make sure it’s not going to fall apart as soon as you pick it”. Whero o Te Rangi, Kuia, Parihaka, Taranaki, New Zealand Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Photographic transparency & archival lightbox, powder coated aluminium frame in black. Limited Edition of 9
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Big Trouble Lightbox Late afternoon looking for a location to photograph with ‘Big Trouble’ a native from Watts, right in the heart of Los Angeles, a place on the planet that is full of Big Trouble. He is a pillar in his gang and his tattoos place him perfectly in this location under a bridge, standing solid like the concrete walls covered in graffiti that surround him. “Peace Means Freedom” Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 730mm x 1500 x 9mm Materials: Photographic transparency & archival lightbox, powder coated aluminium frame in black. Limited Edition of 6
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Where The Mind Goes, The Man Follows in Green Lightbox Actor & Model, Los Angeles. Where the mind goes the man follows “Peace is a state of mind� Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 500mm x 500mm x 50mm Materials: Photographic transparency, archival light box, powder coated aluminum frame in black Limited Edition of 6
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Lady in Blue Petit Lightbox
We Love Too Slow
Only dry dusty roads till the next location. Miles and miles and miles from anywhere. Our lady in blue is working the land. A hard labourer, under the guidance of male ‘handlers’ from sun up to sun down. Dressed as beautifully as this everyday.
Late afternoon wan the courageous an perfectly, with sass edge and energy w our studio. Black c little attention from
Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 650mm x 500 x 50mm Materials: Photographic transparency & archival lightbox, powder coated aluminium frame in black.
‘Peace means Love
Limited Edition of 6
Artist: Stuart Robe Collection: Peace i Dimensions: 650m Materials: Photogr archival lightbox, p in black. Limited Edition of
$6,500 - includes 10% for The Foundation
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$6,500 - includes 1
w Petit Lightbox
The Haight Petit Lightbox
ndering in Soho, London I find nd outrageous Anne. Turned out s to match the style. To add we again choose the street as cabs flying past tooting for a m Anne.
Naked men, women and their pets meander along the street in The Haight. A colourful, fun and confronting part of San Francisco. If you wear jeans and t shirt you stand out as normal. At over 6ft tall and strikingly beautiful, Alexia stood out.
e and Respect’
“Peace is Happiness”
ertson in 10,000 Hands m x 500 x 50mm raphic transparency & powder coated aluminium frame
Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 650mm x 500 x 50mm Materials: Photographic transparency & archival lightbox, powder coated aluminium frame in black.
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10% for The Foundation
Limited Edition of 6 $6,500 - includes 10% for The Foundation artworks installed
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NEON LIG NEON LIG NEON LIG 30
GHTBOXES GHTBOXES GHTBOXES 31
Love with the Absence of Hate Neon Lightbox A legend in the culinary world who has fed over 1,000,000 meals to homeless people. Mark Brand walks his talk. The name of this work needs no more explanation. ‘Love with the absence of Hate’ His choice to omit a word makes this work one of the most powerful in the Peace in 10,000 Hands collection. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Giclée archival print, acrylic light box, RGB Halo with colour control, static, moving or flowing, LED illumination, hand blown glass lettering, red neon Limited Edition of 6
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Amor Neon Lightbox Calu Rivero, one of the biggest celebrities in South America, joined me for breakfast. The location was a dimly lit, black marble lined the walls of a large architectural space. W ith minimal light bouncing in from one direction, it lit only Calu’s face and the hidden tattoo ‘Amor’. I asked her ‘Why Amor’. The answer was as simple as much as a wish ‘Love, just love’. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Giclée archival print, acrylic light box, LED illumination with dimmer control, hand blown glass lettering, red neon. Limited Edition of 3
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Born Free Neon Lightbox Transmuting the tapestry of their minds onto one of the most visible parts of the human body. I find the desire to brand oneself with powerful words of inspiration or desperation fascinating. In this study the use of neon illuminates the dark recesses of the subject’s mind, turning private beliefs into contemporary provocation. I desire a free sprit and ‘bornfree’ resonates with me. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm Materials: Giclée archival print, acrylic light box, LED illumination with dimmer control, hand blown glass lettering, red neon. Limited Edition of 3
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SCULP
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PTURES
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CAST CRYS An exploration of polarities and interdependence to exist The impermanent fragility of a white rose The physical force of a loaded gun Peace | Violence Light | Dark
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STAL
Guns and Roses’ In Robertson’s latest sculptural series ‘Guns and Roses’, the artist explores the polarities, the ‘tension between’. Day does not exist without night, joy without sorrow, life without death, peace without non-peace. Casting both symbolic forms in lead crystal, Robertson playfully forges a union of two symbolic opposites to exist within a solitary form. The infinite now contained within the finite. The rose (cast from the very Rose that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu have both held and blessed) takes on a permanence and density, the glock gun takes on a fragility and transparency. Both shattering into a thousand pieces if dropped. The fragility of the human construct of peace. The artists belief that the key to peace lies in your hands.
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Green Piece Life size hand carved cast lead crystal modelled from the 45 calibre Glock pistol. Feature work from the series ‘Guns and Roses’ Inscribed with the words “we are the same, we are one” Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Guns and Roses Dimensions: 200mm x 130mm Materials: Hand carved lead crystal in Emerald Green Limited Edition of 21
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Crystal Rose Hand carved cast lead crystal rose from the very Rose that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu have both held and blessed. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Guns and Roses Dimensions: 100mm x 80mm x 70mm Materials: Hand carved lead crystal
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Pe
‘Many of Robertsons photographic subjects who have held the rose have said ‘Peace is the absence of war’ or ‘Peace is worth fighting for’. This common contradiction inspired the artists deeper exploration of the concept of interdependance for either state to exist and their physical manefestations’.
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Hig
tan
I honour the place in you where the universe resides. I honour the light, love, truth, beauty and peace with in you, because it is also within me. In sharing these things we are united, we are the same. We are one. (Namaste)
erforated Love Perforated Love
ghly polished hand crafted stainless steel replica tank barrell modelled of the tiger nk with the inscription of the meaning of Namaste engraved on its surface. 4300mm x 100mm on tripod leg base Limited Edition of 11
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An invitation to partake and view the seemingly impossible. A quest so simple, subconciously attainable yet always just out of reach. Robertson further explores the dual symbolism of the white rose; peace and pure love; through an interactive experience, like peaking inside a forbidden treasure box offering the impossible opportunity of infinite love. The highly polished surface of the artwork reflects the environment and the viewer. Three small apertures glow a soft red and invite the viewer to partake in this alternate reality.
INFINITE Love
Infinite Love Free standing sculpture Marine Grade stainless steel fabricated one way with mirror and neon 500mm x 500mm x 500mm on a 900mm x 500mm base Edition of 3 47
“Images generate emotional
sub-conscious responses in us before conditioned intellectual objectifying of what we see gets in the way. After many viewings, I continue to find Robertson’s images emotionally moving; some profoundly so. These works seem to cut straight to the heart of what it means to be human and gently resonate it back to our own reality”
Mark Hutchins-Pond
A luminescent viewing experience. These stunning artworks are created using metallic light sensitive photographic paper, acid free aluminium and museum grade acrylic. Produced to the highest standard to maximize the depth when the light hits and reflects the colour saturation. Created, ready to hang with aluminum mounting brackets.
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EXIGLASS 49
His Holiness The Dalai Lama Plexiglass Before taking this photograph The Dalai Lama blessed the project and the rose. After I took this photograph he blessed me. ‘The planet does not need more successful people. The planet needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds’. His Holiness The Dalai Lama Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 800mm x 800 x 9mm Materials: Gicleé photographic print on metalic archival paper. Plexiglass face mount Limited Edition 2 of 11
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Wisdom of the Harakeke Plexiglass “I believe in another beginning. Time, things don’t happen quick, you move with caution because if you rush across the ground you’re liable to stub your toe on a rock. When you pick a flower you make sure it’s not going to fall apart as soon as you pick it”. Whero o Te Rangi, Kuia, Parihaka, Taranaki, New Zealand Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 800mm x 800mm x 9mm Materials: Gicleé photographic print on metalic archival paper. Plexiglass face mount Limited Edition of 1 of 11
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We Love Too Slow Plexiglass Soho, London, late afternoon wandering I find the courageous and outrageous Anne. Turned out perfectly with sass to match the style. To add edge and energy we again choose the street as our studio, black cabs flying past and tooting. ‘Peace means Love and Respect’ Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 800mm x 800mm x 9mm Materials: Gicleé photographic print on metalic archival paper. Plexiglass face mount Limited Edition of 11
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The Haight Plexiglass Naked men, women and their pets meander along the street in The Haight. A colourful, fun and confronting part of San Francisco. If you wear jeans and t shirt you stand out as normal. At over 6ft tall and strikingly beautiful, Alexia stood out. “Peace is Happiness” Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 800mm x 800mm x 9mm Materials: Gicleé photographic print on metalic archival paper. Plexiglass face mount Limited Edition of 11
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Ode to Lascaux Low light cast crisp black shadows on the sun scorched Sepik River bed like the pigment of a cave drawing. Papua New Guinea’s Central Range spills down through the northern foothills to feed the Sepik floodplains. These foothills are riddled with more than 200 limestone caves which contain a variety of prehistoric and recent cave drawings. The largest collection of cave art in the southern hemisphere, few Westerners have ever seen. The rock paintings are part of a continuous culture of representation from the very first tribes people who settled in these hills more than 20,000 years ago to their descendants, whom I spent time with.
800mm x 1120mm x 8mm Gicleé photographic print on metalic archival paper. Plexiglass face mount Limited Edition of 11
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BOX MOU
NTED Nothing between the viewer and an unguarded moment of humanity. Famous or infamous, notorious or beloved, these portraits are selected to become iconic box mount artworks to allow the viewer to participate in the moment. Large. No glass. Approachable. Breaking conventional barriers, moving the viewers experience across borders, beckoning from passive engagement of the viewer to a more intimate experience. Standing in the moment. Bare. Honest.
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Ricky Gervais 57
Fleur de Lys Mick was introduced to me to photograph holding the white rose. His body is the canvas of his life and yet Mick makes the greatest impression with his articulate mind, big heart and focus for what’s right. His passion for peace and humanity is enormous and it was a real pleasure to spend time with and photograph him. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 1000mm x 1500mm x 50mm Materials: GiclÊe archival print, aluminium box mount Limited Edition of 11 58
Hurricane Seven days with no power, no hot water, Hurricane Sandy had devastated New York in October 2012, there was no time for fixing nails and she was so embarrassed, but her hands and this image captured the rawness & emotion of the plight of the city. Artist: Stuart Robertson Collection: Peace in 10,000 Hands Dimensions: 900mm x 900mm x 50mm Materials: GiclĂŠe archival print, aluminium box mount Limited edition of 11
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FEATURE WO LARGE SCALE
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ORKS ‘The Exquisite Clarity of Standing Together’
7120mm x 2100mm (dibonded works each 400mm x 400mm)
Meditative and intoxicating,‘like being hit by a train’ as one viewer described walking into the ART Museum and seeing the feature work ‘The Exquisite Clarity of Standing Together’. Displayed in a visually powerful uniform black and white grid that covers nearly fifteen square metres. Closer inspection of the work causes provocation on a profoundly subconscious level, inviting an altruistic state of being. Viewers return again and again. Absorbed in the moment, 85 people,18 countries, differing backgrounds, choices, opinions, cultural & spiritual beliefs, economic & life stories of hardship to fame rendered equal & timeless with the act of proferring the same symbol of peace. Standing together, vulnerable in their human condition. Each work, hand printed, hand di bonded, mounted and hung. Attention to every detail. 7120mm x 2100mm Dibond Giclee on aluminium substrate Edition of 5 61
Private
COMMISSIONS
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Aro Ha is world renouned, a retreat in the heart of the South Island, New Zealand. Recognised by Conde Nast as winner of readers awards, as well as recipient of architectual awards, featured in Vogue and dozens more publications. It is known as the gold standard in retreats globally. Aro Ha commissioned Robertson to produce a work that would be a genuine conversation piece to hang in the very heart of their lodge.
Robertson is available for private commissions to produce art works that compliment and speak to your environment.
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“I’m inspired by the belief that art is intimately
entwined with the human condition and has the power to challenge and create change. I believe art can break down barriers. It can move effortlessly across borders and speak profoundly to the heart of mankind and spark emotion and inspiration in every one of us.” Stuart Robertson
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On the road building the legend, photographing in Udaipur, India, 2013
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Contact
Stuart Robertson stu@peacein10000hands.com +64 21975597
Semele Robertson semele@peacein10000hands.com +64 21866415