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Simon Morrison Deaker - 07
Sketchbook Show
This new collection of paintings from Simon Morrison-Deaker for Compose, are the fulfilment of sketches in new and old workbooks. Drawn mainly from his surrounds in Central Otago, the sketches and scribes are fleshed out on the canvas. Attempts are made to stay true to the simple and relaxed aspect of the sketching lines and concepts, resulting in a lucidity and mood. Nationality, colonialism and the establishment are reference themes that make up Simons landscape.
Simon Morrison Deaker has already built a strong following for his provocative comment and intelligent style. His art is characterised by eighty year old fruit stall stencils, bold abstracted lines and muted primary colours. He paints a new kind of landscape from Central Otago to Northland with unabashed adoration for New Zealand’s past. Works evoked from shared landscape themes further elaborate: New Zealand as a colony under new rule, New Zealanders and their fabric. Often these realist compositions sit on moody black backgrounds, amongst graphical statements and local renaissance themes.
Simon is an abstract artist using colloquial themes, social commentary and states of construction as themes in his work. Abstract landscapes soaked in the colour spectrum of the region and the discussion of the ownership of land both fiscally and emotionally sit against symbols and developed icons. Various elements of our surrounds are represented with text in the form of place names, commercial ideas or as elements of construction in the landscape. The construction of the area by geography, industry and history are relayed in the heavy lines and boarders, and works are representative of both the South Island and Auckland region.
Simons studies began with a Fine Arts Diploma in Wellington before crossing over to practical media studies in television and video production and and finishing with a multi media design diploma in Christchurch. As a result of Fringe Festival involvement, theatre design and short film projects, Simon worked on Lord of the Rings for a year before 2 years as a Graphic Designer for a company in Wellington. A return to Queenstown and growing success in exhibitions has seen Simon practising his art full time since 2001.
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