On Friday, I ventured into the city with my daughter to view The Greer Twiss Collection: An Imaginative Curiosity at Art And Object. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Greer Twiss, he was a New Zealand sculptor who primarily works with bronze. He had the ability to create amazing pieces from such a solid, unforgiving material. The pieces he created were often delicate and whimsical. There is a certain softness about his sculptures that is so captivating. I have no doubt that Twiss had quite the imagination.
Alongside the Twiss collection is The New Collectors: Art and Studio Ceramics, which I thoroughly enjoyed. What I love about this collection is the diversity of media, whether it be etchings, original paintings, or even photographs. There truly is something for everyone. The way the gallery has been curated is particularly clever, with many of the mediums incorporated together rather than separated into tailored sections.
The layout reminded me of my own art collection at home, an eclectic mix of sculpture, painting, prints, and my own woodworks hanging on the walls. This exhibition feels warm and inviting, which is quite a contrast to some exhibitions I’ve attended that felt rather sterile and uncomfortable. I must have walked around the exhibition two or three times to take it all in, especially considering there are over 400 pieces for sale, some starting at just $50.
I have a few favourites I’d love to mention. Passing Storm by Elizabeth Thomson is an artist’s proof etching that is simply gorgeous and timeless. I also loved the etchings by Bill Hammond, his works had such extraordinary detail. Shane Cotton’s Chalk was particularly striking: three abstract squares painted in oil. It’s simple, but that’s exactly what I like about it.
I enjoyed seeing Henrietta Harris’s large mountain watercolour on paper, which must have been some of her earlier work, as she now mainly paints portraits. The mountains she depicted were bold and striking. Another firm favourite was Joe Sheehan piece Untitled which was made from a piece in argillite, approximately 300mm high, with a small dwelling perched on top. The level of detail in his work is incredibly inspiring.
The exhibition runs until Tuesday 24th February, with the auction beginning at 6pm that evening. If you have the time to check it out, you absolutely should.
