James Cousins: Twofoldness

Overview

There are two things at the forefront James Cousins' paintings – interference and disruption. In most of his pieces, few marry together in terms of colours, texture and shadow, but their clashes create something comfortably wholesome. Everything seems a little disheveled, with the only focus is on the irregularities.

Cousins employs images, which he submerges, redefines, overlays, and manipulates with vinyl stencils and paint, letting each lurch away from his own artistic intentions, taking direction on their own. And this type of work has long been appreciated and admired on Australian, New Zealand and international circuits. Cousins has exhibited as part of the The Wallace Art Awards (2005), Waikato National Art Awards (2002) and the Visa Gold Awards (1996, 1998) and featured at the 2005 Rotterdam Art fair.

You can see the work of this New Zealand artist at Ryan Renshaw Gallery till the 23rd of August. Some of his pieces are a little confronting, other’s are just sporadic, but all say a little something about the uselessness of focus.