mark cross liquid landscapes exhibition catalogue
DESCRIPTION
Better known for his figures in landscapes, paintings that reflect the artist's humanistic interests, the figure has been totally abandoned in this recent series of paintings by Niue/Auckland based artist, Mark Cross. So too have strong landscape elements which in most of the works have given way to an emphasis on the effects of water, particular of the very clear variety where the viewer looks down into the foreground to see what is happening in great detail on the seabed.. In most cases, a depiction of place is not the main object here (although the artist has defined the image's origins by declaring them in parenthesis in the title).What is more important is the fascination for the combined effects of sunlight, reflection and refraction distorting the seabed by a stretching and compressing process often highlighted by the phenomenon of water caustics. On the surface, there are no human elements to be found in the paintings but on close observation the cliffs and water tend to conTRANSCRIPT
Mark CrossLiquid Landscapes: Mokohinau & other Islands
14 February - 22 March 2015
pierre peeters gallery251 Parnell Road; Habitat CourtyardParnell, Auckland, +6493774832 www.pierrepeetersgallery.com
Mark CrossLiquid Landscapes: Mokohinau and Other Islands
Better known for his figures in landscapes, paintings that reflect the artist’s humanistic interests, the figure has been totally abandoned in this recent series of paintings by Niue/Auckland based artist, Mark Cross. So too have strong landscape elements which in most of the works have given way to an emphasis on the effects of water, particular of the very clear variety where the viewer looks down into the foreground to see what is happening in great detail on the seabed.
In most cases, a depiction of place is not the main object here (although the artist has defined the image’s origins by declaring them in parenthesis in the title).What is more important is the fascination for the combined effects of sunlight, reflection and refraction distorting the seabed by a stretching and compressing process often highlighted by the phenomenon of water caustics.
On the surface, there are no human elements to be found in the paintings but on close observation the cliffs and water tend to convey or contain a subtle anthropomorphic quality that take the paintings into another realm, beyond mere land/seascape.
1. Inlet Mokohinau
oil on canvas
760 x 1010 mm
2. Schism, Mokohinau
oil on canvas
1010 x 2030 mm
3. Leviathan, Mokohinau, #1
oil on canvas
600 x 760 mm
4. Sentinel, Mokohinua, #2
oil on canvas
600 x 760 mm
5. Radiant Shore
oil on canvas
1000 x 1500 mm
6. Reef Backwater
oil on canvas
500 x 760 mm
7. The Mykonian
oil on canvas
500 x 1500 mm
8. Reef Juxtaposition
oil on canvas
1010 x 1520 mm
9. Gap, Mokahinua
oil on canvas
1220 x 1520 mm
10. Monolith
oil on canvas
840 x 1370 mm
Mark CrossLiquid Landscapes: Mokohinua & Other Islands
14 February - 22 March 2015
1. Inlet, Mokohinau Oil on Canvas 760 x 1010 mm $25,000
2. Schism Oil on Canvas 1010 x 2030 mm $45,000
3. Leviathan, Mokohinau, #1 Oil on Canvas 600 x 760 mm $16,000
4. Sentinel, Mokohinau, #2 Oil on Canvas 600 x 760 mm $16,000
5. Radiant Shore Oil on Canvas 1000 x 1500 mm $36,000
6. Reef Backwater Oil on Canvas 500 x 760 mm SOLD
7. The Mykonian Oil on canvas 500 x 1500 mm $20,000
8. Reef Juxtaposition Oil on Canvas 1010 x 1520 mm SOLD
9. Gap, Mokohinau Oil on Canvas 1220 x 1520 mm SOLD
10. Monolith Oil on Canvas 840 x 1370 mm SOLD
251 Parnell Road; Habitat Courtyard; ph 09 3774832; www.pierrepeetersgallery.com