:art
Dressed
to kill
'Dressed to Kill' by Linda Gair is an exhibition that reworks, explores,
and further develops the partly realised theme from her earlier exhibition
"Wardrobe." Taking inspiration from both Frida Kahlo and the 'Day of
the Dead' tradition, Dressed to Kill regards clothes as sculptural objects
possessed of a human quality. This human element is represented by the
works displayed on skeletons, an elemental facet of human being.
"In my recent visit to Central and South Eastern Mexico, I made a point
of searching out several landmarks that decades ago I had promised myself
to visit. These were Kahlo's 'Blue House'(family home) and the one she
moved to after her marriage to renown Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.
I was intent on finding as many of their works held in public collections
as I could. These experiences were 'spiritual' on many levels and inspired
creative exploration and discovery within my own practice."
www.depotartspace.co.nz
Art Fair
Art is a competitive business. Galleries vie for the art buyer's attention and by all
rights Jennifer Buckley and Deborah White (shown above), both gallery owners
in trendy Grey Lynn, could be expected to be fighting each other for their share
of that attention. In their case, however, competition has bred a strong business
relationship and friendship. Their shared vision for promoting contemporary art
led them to establish New Zealand's first and only international art fair. The idea
wasn't an immediate success. The first event in 2005, held in a temporary structure
in Briotmart, featured seventeen mainly local galleries. Eight years and four fairs
later, the fair boasts more than 40 exhibitions and projects by Australia and New
Zealand's leading galleries and their most sought after artists.
"Deborah and I share a vision of making the the art world more accessible, and
what better way than by bringing the best of what our world has to offer into
one space?" says Buckley, Director of Auckland Art Fair. "Art is presented very
democratically at the fair and everyone is welcome.You can be a critic, curator,
collector or simply curious. Everyone is tipped into the same pot and
visitors are invited to spend some time, and to look, listen and learn." Their
relationship is the glue that makes the art fair such a success with Buckley
running the fair's commercial aspects and producing the overall event while
White curates and coordinates the Art Fair forum - a public programme
of lively panel discussions, special projects and artist talks. The biennial Art
Fair, featuring more than 40 exhibitions, projects and installations by New
Zealand and Australia's most forward thinking galleries, and the region's top
contemporary artists, will be on show at The Cloud, on Queens Wharf from
7 – 11 August.
www.artfair.co.nz
86 | www.h e rma gaz i n e . c o. n z
