An exhibition of new sculptures by Wellington artist Jeff Thomson is to open at the Fisher Gallery, Pakuranga, Manukau City from Friday 18 February 1994.
Pirouette is a series of new works commissioned especially for the Fisher Gallery. The show consists of a series of corrugated iron constructions which include large scale stands holding rotors and fans. These ten enlarged weather vanes will take up the entire space of the Fisher Gallery.
Corrugated iron sculpture has been the mainstay of Jeff Thomson’s artistic output since the early 1980s. The Auckland-born artist first used corrugated iron while working on mail-box sculptures in rural areas of New Zealand. During this time Thomson walked the urban and rural highways, gaining the paraphernalia which he would use in his sculptures.
Developing a sense for the New Zealand landscape, he was drawn to the stuff of which rural New Zealand is made - corrugated iron. The ubiquitous nature of the material - coupled with Thomson’s amiable style - has led to an art form which enjoys a wider than usual audience. His elephant sculptures drew large crowds and extensive media coverage when displayed in Auckland and Wellington. His works are as likely to be seen on the roadside and in public parks and buildings as they are in art galleries.
Thomson was born in Auckland in 1957. He attended Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland from 1977-79. Since his first solo exhibition in 1982, Thomson has exhibited work regularly in group and solo exhibitions throughout New Zealand and overseas. He has been represented in major exhibitions such as The Painted Zoo at Shed 11, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington and Corrugated Wellington at the Wellington City Art Gallery.
Thomson has also undertaken a number of large-scale commissioned works including the herd of thirteen corrugated iron elephants in Albert Park, Auckland. At the end of last year, he completed an elephant entrance-way to the Shop at the Auckland Zoo. This exhibition provides another opportunity for Auckland to view again one of New Zealand’s freshest and most original artists.
Ephemera
→ Jeff Thomson: Pirouette, 1994, exhibition card