For an artist, connection with other creatives can be vital in how they define, understand, and interpret their artistic practice—within their immediate communities, culture, and the wider world. Invisible Ties reflects on the often-unseen relationships and connections between artists and of their encouragement and support towards one another. It is a celebration of human connection, acknowledging that art is far more than the visible finished artwork.
EXHIBITION PREMISE
Six artists were invited to exhibit at The Central Art Gallery as part of a group exhibition: Lonnie Hutchinson, Cora-Allan, Elizabeth Thomson, Simon Edwards, Emma Camden, and Jon Jeet. Each of these six artists accepted the invite and embraced the offer to then invite another practicing artist, or artists, of their choice to exhibit alongside them.
Lonnie invited Neil Dawson; Cora-Allan invited Monica Paterson; Elizabeth invited William Hadwen and Torben Giehler; Simon invited Miranda Parkes; Emma invited Laurence Aberhart; and Jon invited John Pule.
The brief was open to interpretation in terms of how the artists worked towards the exhibition—they could choose to collaborate on a work; work independently; work alongside each other; respond to each other’s work—their options were limited only by their imagination, time, and place but all involved connection and communication.
THE EXHIBITION
Within Invisible Ties, artist’s works are exhibited in their pairings/groupings, highlighting the human connection between artists and, in some cases, visual connections in their works. Simon Edwards and Miranda Parkes are two artists with very different painting styles but both are process-driven artists, happiest working in their studios. There is a compelling connection between the billows, folds, and furrowes of Miranda’s scrunched canvases and Simon’s painted peaks, valleys, and plains. The pair shared a studio in Ōtautahi Christchurch for over 8 years, from around 2006, and remain very close friends and colleagues. Lonnie Hutchinson and Neil Dawson are both Ōtautahi Christchurch-based visual artists and sculptors who met over 20 years ago through Jonathan Smart Gallery. Lonnie and Neil decided to collaborate for this exhibition and created Hīkoi, a work composed of 8 individual conical pieces—4 pieces created by each artist, showcasing their own unique motifs. In the beginning, Lonnie and Neil’s relationship was as mentee/mentor—when Lonnie first began working in public art—but now they are colleagues and friends.
