Bill Hammond – Midnight in the Mountains

Overview

Intricately painted "bird people" glimmer in the darkness of Midnight in the Mountains - the exhibition of five new paintings, a work from 1985 and a suite of small drawings by leading New Zealand artist Bill Hammond.

These bird people are protectors of the land and are like old friends to anyone familiar with Hammond's work - old friends who have been continually reinvented and displayed in new contexts since the artist's 1989 visit to the Auckland Islands, a trip which opened his eyes to New Zealand as it once was, birdland. This preoccupation with his natural surroundings often sees Hammond place figures alongside the stark hills of Banks Peninsula, landmarks which are almost certainly referenced in the title of the exhibition.

The gracefulness of the figures and detailing in these paintings carefully counterbalance the darkness of the background while the antique-looking urns dotted throughout lend a classic and romantic feel to these works. Sparse use of vivid emerald, gold and sky blue link back to previous series in which these colours dominated. The burnt orange and luscious red however, are new tones which, set against the dark atmospheric background, almost jump off the canvas.

Hammond's art achieves the near impossible; it is as edgy and sombre as it is beautiful and angelic. Over the years he has established a visual language and techniques which are completely his own. Like any great artist, you can't beat seeing his works close up so make sure you check out his latest works before they go to the collectors.

* Gallery opening hours: Tues-Sat 11am-5pm.