Mud Monster

Information Release 23 April 2009
Mud Monster

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Untitled 2009 by Gary Freemantle

Mud Monster an exhibition of new work by Gary Freemantle opens at the Mary Newton on Tuesday. This show completes a series of work that began with the aftermath of the Paekakariki flood in 2003.

Freemantle explains. “The piles of silt literally washed up on my doorstep, and that became the material I used to make paintings with. The series has since then and I have expanded it by sourcing thermal mud and various coloured clays from around the country. I'm interested in the range of colours that occur in New Zealand - from delicate pinks to bright yellow ochre.

“I enjoy the challenge of working with something that is almost impossible to control - it forces me to work spontaneously and improvise. The results are always surprising. Apart from some filtering most of the material has been used straight from the ground and I like the metaphorical associations of this.”

The show also contains work using other materials that Freemantle has been using – velvet, acrylic and watercolour.

Mud Monster runs until 23 May 2009.

ENDS

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