Ariki Gallery Brings Poster Art to the People

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Date: 4 September 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE

Ariki Gallery Upsets the Few, and Brings Poster Art to the People

Thanks to the success of fundraiser ‘30 Easy Pieces,’ the recently refurbished Ariki Gallery will re-open on the 14th September with ‘Hand/Eye: Contemporary Poster Art’ and it’s all wrong according to a few skeptics.

The concept for this show initially received criticism from some quarters, to which Ariki respond by being proud to announce that, from September 15 through until October 26, they will be exhibiting posters that advertise nothing at all. They’ve been stripped from the streets, hung in an art gallery, and added to this, these digitally designed posters will be printed using the truly digital method of hand screen printing.

A series of 10 works have been crafted by digital artists, all have been printed by hand, and only 30 limited edition prints of each design will be available to the public.

Melbourne-based designer, Ben Thomson whose work features in the show, enjoys the irony, stating: “Digital Illustration is a conceptually flawless medium; it's hard to force a computer to make a charming error,” and yet this is exactly what one finds “in the process of screen-printing.”

All works in this exhibition are screen-printed in Christchurch by ‘Garage Collective,’ a small-scale and highly esteemed operation. Recently enjoying a retrospective at The Physics Room. ‘Garage Collective,’ produces work for the likes of ‘A Low Hum,’ international touring bands like ‘The Evens,’ and renownd Los Angeles venue Knitting Factory.

Guest Curator Glen Leslie, a pop-culture junkie, is quick to point out that while the mass-produced appeal of posters is being exploited in this show, each print has been individually screened and attains an aesthetic unique to the ‘Garage Collective’ practice.

The Gallery will also be featuring video animations by local filmmakers. Running concurrently this installation piece; ‘Front Room: Hamilton Animation in Cahoots with HUFF,’ will simulate the cosy 6am nostalgia of Saturday morning cartoons, with an edge. It also aims to promote Hamilton’s exciting Under Ground Film Festival phenomenon (huff07.info).

Ariki Gallery are pleased to have the patronage of café and venue La Commune who are kindly providing refreshments for the ‘Hand/Eye’ September 14th opening event.

Opening event: 5:30pm Friday 14th September Exhibition runs from 15/9/07 – 26/10/07

For further information, please contact Ariki Gallery

ENDS

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