Tougher Than Diamonds
Reuben Paterson
10 August – 2 October 2015
Opening event: 5:30pm Thursday 13 August 2015
Calder & Lawson Gallery, Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
The Calder & Lawson Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition by renowned New Zealand artist Reuben Paterson (Ngati Rangitihi/Ngai Tuhoe/Te Arawa/Pakeha/Scottish). Paterson is well-known for his signature use of glitter, vibrant colour and bold pattern.
Tougher than Diamonds will bring together works from Paterson’s recent show The Aroma of Black at Milford Gallery Queenstown, as well as three large panels from the seminal work Whakapapa, Get Down Upon Your Knees, which was originally created for the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in 2009. Across his work, Paterson has used pattern to reference traditional kowhaiwhai, his grandmother’s dresses, father’s ties, wallpaper designs and other textiles – all evoking nostalgia for another era.
Tougher than Diamonds is kindly supported by Gow Langsford Gallery and Milford Galleries Dunedin and Queenstown. This event is in association with Wintec and SPARK International Festival of Media, Arts and Design.
The exhibition celebration will be followed by a panel discussion at 7pm - Creative Confluences: Merging Art Practices and Trans-disciplinary Collaborations which will include academics Lisa Reihana (Artist), Julianne Pierce (Creative Producer, Australia), Deborah Lawler-Dormer (Curator), and Jennifer Gillam (Artist). This panel has been arranged by Dr Isabelle Delmotte from the University of Waikato Screen & Media Programme.
REUBEN PATERSON
Whakapapa: Get Down Upon Your Knees IV (detail)
2009
Glitter & synthetic polymer on canvas
2000 x 2000 x 36 mm
Courtesy of the Artist
Image: Schwere Webber
REUBEN PATERSON
Vows
2013/15
Glitter & synthetic polymer on canvas
1500 x 40 mm (ø x d)
Courtesy of Milford Galleries Queenstown
Image: Bridget Webber