Hellendoorn and Cherry at Suite

Media Statement and invitation

For immediate release

Tuesday 26 May 2009

Hellendoorn and Cherry at Suite

Suite will show works by Arie Hellendoorn and Robert Cherry from Wednesday 3 June 2009.

Arie Hellendoorn’s exhibition Knows Nos features ten new paintings and while these are a departure from recent work that referenced historical painting he continues to recontextualise modernism.  Hellendoorn, who is currently based in South Korea, has created cameo pieces that show human shapes but where those within the frames are unfamiliar, shapes without distinguishable features.

Hellendoorn’s paintings are wide ranging in their influences, often bold, vibrant and playful works where the portraits faces and abstract geometric patterns.  His application of thick layers of oil paint and the flattened planes of colour give his works, at times, a naïve appearance.

Hellendoorn’s work is collected by some of New Zealand’s best-known collectors and has been shown at Suite since the gallery opened in 2007.

Hellendoorn was born in the Netherlands in 1980 but has been based in New Zealand for the last 20 years.  He holds an honours degree in fine arts from Massey and has exhibited in public and artist run spaces including the Michael Hirschfield Gallery, Enjoy and High Street Project.  

Robert Cherry’s exhibition Meadow Fresh takes the phrase, ‘one man’s trash is another’s treasure’ into the physical. His works combine modelling clay and found objects from local beaches, often polluted locations where beachcombing yields more bottle tops than shells.  Cherry presents them as precious objects, assemblages and small figurative sculptures. 

Most recently Cherry’s works have been shown at the Auckland Art Fair – New Zealand’s leading contemporary art event. He is a self-taught artist who has exhibited since 1988.

Know Nos and Meadow Fresh run from Saturday 6 June 2009 to Saturday 27 June 2009.

Suite is located at 69 Owen Street, Newtown, Wellington and online at www.suite.co.nz

ENDS

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