Outsiders Look Inward

Outsiders Look Inward

Julian Royds

Wellington painter Julian Royds grew up in Christchurch and attended Art School there in the 1950s. That city's Neo-Gothic architecture and exotic flora have had a lasting effect on her unique visual language.

A spectacular snowfall during her childhood has also provided continuing inspiration with the unforgettable atmosphere connected with this magical event still seen in her obsession with eerie light and dark.

Julian paints imaginary landscapes inhabited by strange bird like figures. Her paintings have a religious visionary quality reminiscent of other Outsider Artists like Samuel Palmer and William Blake.

Her delicate abstract artworks hint at Middle Eastern calligraphy and illuminated, Medieval manuscripts. Many are based on musical and plant forms.

"As a painter I live in my own world and the paintings just happen. You might call them escapist. there's no social comment."

Merita Green

Merita Green is a self-taught artist living in Taupo. She works intuitively with local raw materials and found objects to explore her re-experience of childhood from the perspective of motherhood.

Her ceramic dolls are each housed in tin and wood shrines reminiscent of the religious folk art commonly associated with Central and South America.

Merita is influenced largely by her rediscovery of Catholicism and a desire to communicate the relevance and significance of spirituality in her life as a mother.

"As adults, parents, communities we clothe children in layers of our own hope, fear and judgement."

Join us at ROAR!gallery near the corner of Vivian and Victoria Streets for the opening on Thursday 5 May 5.30 - 7pm to meet the artist/s and share a glass of wine.

All welcome.

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