philippa blair
“words for this project. words that come to me. brain. walk. conversation.
labyrinth of line.
human connection
its a puzzle. a puzzle to me.
link. everything links together.
the paintings link to the 3 dimensional works…. and quite fun! unexpected connections.
at last I can see the connections between the so called ‘toys’ and the paintings. there is a humanoid presence with the 3D works… they sit next to the paintings… creatures to accompany the painting. a dedicated lover and friend. a solid companion.
hop
skip
jump!
cinematic jumps. transmotion. logical steps…
literal leaps. childhood. erehwon.
this place. comes from adventure. links to my ancestors. the foothills on the southern alps. a quake of earth
views from above. a revelation.”
philippa blair x mothermother 2020
'Hop, Step n' Jump', 2015, 800mm x 800mm acrylic, 3 canvases, wood. Image courtesy of the artist. work courtesy of Orexart gallery
'Two Heads are better than One', 2017 , acrylic, oil, canvas, wood, 1000 x 1500cm. image courtesy of the artist. work courtesy of Orexart gallery
installation view. image courtesy of nat tozer
Conversations' (talking heads…witness)…papers card mixed media, 2019, 700 x 400cm. image courtesy of nat tozer. work courtesy of Orexart gallery
'Conversations', 3D sculptural 'toys' 700 x 400mm / 800 x 600cm 2019, card, papers, ink, gesso. image courtesy of the artist. work courtesy of Orexart gallery
installation view with hye rim lee on the left. image courtesy of Cheyenne rose. work courtesy of Orexart gallery
'Erewhon' (Nowhere) 2011, 600 x 500cm mixed media, recycledcard, papers, netting, ink, gesso. image courtesy of the artist. work courtesy of Orexart gallery
installation view with cheyenne rose on the left. image courtesy of cheyenne rose
'family' photo in the studio. image courtesy of the artist. work courtesy of Orexart gallery
Philippa Blair has exhibited regularly throughout her distinguished career, from early career shows in 1970’s New Zealand, to solo exhibitions in New York in the 1980s, and museum exhibitions in Los Angeles throughout the 1990s and 2000s where she also lived for twenty years. Returning to Auckland in 2014, Philippa is affected by and her practice is governed by place. Location, relocation, dislocation are themes that she continually maps and re-maps in her work, deliberately dislocating the norm to create new two and three dimensional structures.
Experimental and improvisational, her work is ironic, autobiographical, instinctive. Engagement with the world is paramount to narrowing down a description for her work. Life experience and art history connect with physiology and motion - where many worlds are conveyed through the dancing line and the high energy of her gestural layered mark making.
In 2020, Philippa was the subject of a major survey exhibition at Te Uru Contemporary Gallery, Waitakere. Her work is represented in public and private collections in New Zealand, Australia, USA, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Malaysia.
In dedication and loving memory of John Porter, beloved husband of Philippa, and great friend to all.
Philippa Blair is represented by Orex Gallery in Tāmaki Makaurau and PG Gallery192 in Ōtautahi.