Saturday, September 19, 2009

GRAHAM KIRK: SUPER HEROES IN TARANAKI & THE UK


Exhibited in the Kina gallery
17 July – 12 August 2009


SUPER HEROES IN TARANAKI & THE UK represented a continuation of Kirk’s Superhero theme which started in 1989 with Superman at the Hawera Water Tower.

SUPER HEROES IN TARANAKI & THE UK provided us with a collection from Kirk’s latest works featuring spectacular landscapes with the surprising appearance of well known characters into the scene. Although there was still be one of his earlier line-drawn comic character paintings on display (TinTin and Captain Haddock on New Plymouth Walkway), these new paintings marked a shift in Kirk’s work towards a concern for an illusionistic rendering of three dimensional figures. These Superheroes and Celebrity portraits have been sourced from the silver-screen rather than the comic page.

Kirk’s technical skill is impressive. His large scale works speak to us of the time and effort involved in the production of these pieces. Kirk’s approach to painting assumes both Super-realist and Pop Art overtones in his attempt to reproduce the original photograph or still frame as closely as he can, whilst seeking out iconic images of the time.

Kirk is concerned for achieving a ‘truth’ in his work. By focusing on colour, shadows and light, certain social nuances of the original time and place are encapsulated. The scale of these paintings serves to further highlight these details and perceptions that Kirk has reproduced for us.
The paintings often generate questions relating to Kirk’s decision to use comic characters or Superheroes in his landscapes. He explains that he has always been interested in “mixing the surreal within the ordinary” and avoiding producing simply “a chocolate box image”.

Kirk is not interested in directing people too far in the interpretation of his work. He states “people can bring their own things into the work”. This show was a great chance to view some of Graham Kirk’s most recent pieces and for people to create their own stories, thoughts and interpretations.

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