Mark Cross

M A R K C R O S S Sienna Palette

DryGulch; Oil on Canvas, 61 x 30 cm

15 March - 15 April 2013

251 Parnell Road; Habitat Courtyard; ph 09 3774832; www.ppg.net.nz

Mark Cross: Sienna Palette 15 March - 15 April 2013 Born in Auckland, Mark Cross began making art during his mid teens. At the age of 23 he moved with his family to his wife’s village, Liku, on the island of Niue. It was during these early years that a strong philosophic and stylistic foundation was established for his career as an artist.

This latest exhibition by Mark Cross is in three parts.

Firstly, as referenced by the title of the exhibition we have a collection of New Zealand landscapes where the palette predominantly consists of Sienna and other earthy colours .

The works are revisitations by the artist to places that he has painted many times, particularly in the 80s. These are of areas of very narrow parameters in the Rangipo Desert and the Tapora Peninsular in the Kaipara Harbour, the latter of which he has had a long association with from an early age.

Secondly, we have accumulated a collection of the Artist’s highly sought after figures in water subjects. While being inspired by the unbelievably clear waters of Cross’s second home Niue, these paintings often carry a subtle environmental inference which warn of the fragility of the Earth at the hands of Mankind. The coral reef is a metaphor for the Earth in these paintings. Although a couple of paintings in this collection go back to 2001, this is the first time all of these paintings have been seen by the general public in New Zealand.

Thirdly, as a respite from his main and better known activity of painting Cross also puts his hand to other media including sculpture, photography and video. We are pleased to introduce to the New Zealand public for the first time several of the artist’s video experiments of the last two years. These have been produced in collaboration with a number of musicians in particular experimental composer/musician Darryn Harkness. The three collaborations with Harkness here, are the most recent videos and the imagery once again is drawn from the clear waters of Niue and convey environmental concerns.

Cross’s paintings, however, are his main focus and are to be found in numerous private and corporate collections in Australasia, America and Europe. Cross now divides his time between studios in Niue and New Zealand.

Mangroves and Manuka Oil on Canvas: 30 x 40 cm

Sandspit and Estuary Oil on Canvas: 30 x 40 cm

Expectant Estuary Oil on Canvas: 30 x 61 cm

Dry Gulch Oil on Canvas: 30 x 61 cm

Tide Wane Oil on Canvas: 30 x 61 cm

Parched Creek Oil on Canvas: 30 x 61 cm

Tuna Years Oil on Canvas 91 x 122 cm

Reef Archive Oil on Canvas 84 x 122 cm

Ray Flight Oil on Canvas 71 x 102 cm

Swimming in Cyan Champagne Oil on Canvas 50 x 76 cm

Superficial Paleu Oil on Canvas 61 x 91 cm

Tidal Effect Oil on Canvas 61 x 91 cm

Cave Muse Oil on Canvas 61 x 76 cm

Moral Rite Oil on Canvas 63 x 60 cm

Global Enema Oil on Canvas 85 x 110 cm

1. Mangrove and Manuka 2. Sandspit and Estuary

Sold 3. Expectant Estuary 4. Tide Wane Sold 5. Dry Gulch 6. Parched Creek

7. The Tuna Years

8. Reef Archive

9. Ray Flight

10. Swimming in Cyan Champagne

11. Superficial Paleu

Sold 12. Tidal Effect

13. Cave Muse

Sold 14. Moral Rite

15. Global Enema

$4,850 $4,850 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $38,000 $38,000 $36,000 $16,000 $18,500 $12,500 $28,000 $18500 $25,000

251 Parnell Road; Habitat Courtyard; ph 09 3774832; www.ppg.net.nz