Masters

Masters Exhibition

www.internationalartcentre.co.nz

Masters Exhibition

17 October - 4 November 2013

Masters is an exhibition of works by top of the pyramid painters.

What does this mean? Visualise a pyramid - the base consists of a wide, supportive foundation narrowing to an apex. In this context, the small number of artists at the top of the apex possess an extreme and admirable level of competence. In-depth knowledge, based on firm foundations, culminating in mastery. In a world awash with images of mediocrity we welcome you to an exhibition of exhilarating excellence.

Frances Davies - Director

Anthony D Blake

Anthony Blake is one of the world’s foremost marine artists. Based in Auckland, his work is hung in collections throughout the United States, Canada, Virgin Islands, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Blake has received commissions from such prestigious institutions as the New York Yacht Club, the Herreshoff Maritime Museum, Rhode Island and the Storm Trysail Yacht Club, New York.

In this work ,Volunteer is just ahead of Viking in a close race during the 1894 Auckland Anniversary Regatta. Two smaller yachts in the open boat class also have a close battle. The paddle wheel steam ferry Victoria follows the first class yachts with a capacity crowd of sightseers. In the background is the Muritai, also racing in the first class division. A fresh westerly wind is blowing with clouds casting shadows on the water in the foreground and over a part of Rangitoto in the background. Volunteer won the race on line but Viking beat her on handicap.

Volunteer was built in Sydney in 1888, bought by Tom Henderson in 1893 and sailed to New Zealand. She was wrecked in a hurricane at Levuka, Fiji, in 1915. Viking was designed by Charles Bailey and launched in time for the 1894 regatta for the Bloomfield brothers, Jack, Henry and Ernest. She dominated the first class division until 1897 when Thelma was launched. Viking is still sailing after having undergone a recent restoration.

Paul Coney

Master artist, Paul Coney puts the finishing touches to his latest large scale oil. Jardin des Royals features nature’s queen of flowers, the rose. In the ancient language of flowers red roses are a symbol of love, white roses stand for virtue while deep purple conveys enchantment. This trilogy of blooms signify strength and unity.

The painting itself is a unification of accomplishment. Talent, appreciative knowledge of subject matter, balanced composition and mastery of technique elevate Coney’s latest creation of cascading white Banskia blossoms, velvety red and deep purple blooms to a trilogy of beauty.

Henryk Szydlowski

TheArtist Born 1950 Poland – 1976 graduated Krakow’s Academy of Fine Arts – 1978 emigrated to New Zealand - taught at Whitecliffe College of Art – 1985 moved to Perth – facilty of Claremont School of Fine Art - international recognition and representation – 1996 tribute paid in Who’s Who of International Art, Lausanne – 1998 officially acknowledged by Accademia Internatzionale Greci Marino Vercelli, Italy – 2003 American publication Door to The Dreams – extensive exhibitions – worldwide acclaim.

The Paintings – masterful composition – tactile planes of richly applied colour – subtle blending of elements – glamour – a vocabulary of personal symbols referring to universal concepts – birds representing freedom – puppet like figures are whoever, we the viewer want them to be – traceries of fine black lines across gold and silver leaf – uplifting – balance and harmony - journeys of visual exploration.

Franco Anselmi

The Artist – Born 1950 – Treviso, Northern Italy – Graduate of University of Urbino – professional artist since 1974 - exhibiting throughout Europe for over thirty years – recent exhibitions Paris, St Petersburg and Hong Kong.

The Paintings – true to the Venetian School of Painting – colour abounds – a unique technique of modern day fresco – original concepts combined with historic symbolism – owls of wisdom portrayed with keys of knowledge – feminine beauties sipping expresso against a back drop of incised motifs – haloed woman clad in gold and ultramarine – red-hatted bridesmaids framed by quatrefoil rose windows – Anselmi humerously embraces the exotic and the erotic with a unique sense of Italian style.

Carlo Mirabasso

The Artist: Born 1959 Tivoli, Rome – graduated 1979 – professional artist since 1996 – lives in Umbria close to Assisi – represented Rome, Milan, Bari, Turin, Assisi, Verona and Auckland.

The Paintings: Finely executed - delicate palettes on primed and textured backdrops - layering of colour -soft washes - touches of gold - angelic illusions - symmetry - landscapes glimpsed through classical arches and open shutters - Renaissance references - black and white tiles creating perspective - tiny hovering Giotto-like angelsultramarine skies studded with stars - fields as tapestries - Tuscan sunflowers - cypress trees - emblems and symbols - subjects of historical opulence - duomos and palaces - domains of the high-born - a sense of frivolity.

Kees