darryn george

abstraction

darryn george keeps good company

1 june - 9 july

Darryn George’s new work continues to explore traditions of customary Maori art forms and Western abstraction. His paintings operate on various levels. This series of new work draws it's inspiration from ’Kaniwha’ with a Maori transliteration of ‘slot’. Generic motifs are used to enrich the layers beneath plains of colour as George continues his experimentation with the axial orientation of kowhaiwhai so that motif combinations are flipped, rotated and reflected.

In the genre of the abstract artists from whom George gleans much of his inspiration there is a prevailing freedom to explore alternate possibilities. The results are tight abstract colour planes, simple and pared back, operating on multiple levels in an innovative and thoroughly engaging way. Not surprising then that George is gaining considerable critical attention and acclaim for his work. In this exhibition he keep good company with some of the best US abstractionists including John McLaughlin, Agnes Martin and Ellesworth Kelly.