Peter & Kirk Nicholls - Genetics of Renewal
8th February - 17th March 2019
It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to bring together the work of father and son, Peter and Kirk Nicholls. I have had a long and productive engagement with Peter beginning in 1975 when as Exhibitions Technician at the Sarjeant Gallery the first show I installed was a touring exhibition of Peter’s work. Later as Director I organised several solo Nicholls shows and included him in various group shows.
Peter was born and lived for some time in Whanganui and by coincidence – or destiny his son Kirk settled here some years ago and is also a practicing sculptor.
Recent discussions with Peter and Kirk lead to the conception of this exhibition. While Peter's reputation is firmly based in his abstract structures, primarily large wooden and forged steel outdoor sculptures, in this exhibition he has included works with figurative elements and references to humanities and relationships with nature. This figurative approach was chosen to engage with Kirk's large figurative portraits, modeled in recycled milk bottles and other plastic objects. These dramatic portraits are both powerful expressions of humanity while also making a prescient environmental statement, referencing the impact of man-made plastic throwaways on natures survival.
While the work by each artist is significantly different and using materials of different generational practices the crafting by each of them is exceptional.
Peter was born and lived for some time in Whanganui and by coincidence – or destiny his son Kirk settled here some years ago and is also a practicing sculptor.
Recent discussions with Peter and Kirk lead to the conception of this exhibition. While Peter's reputation is firmly based in his abstract structures, primarily large wooden and forged steel outdoor sculptures, in this exhibition he has included works with figurative elements and references to humanities and relationships with nature. This figurative approach was chosen to engage with Kirk's large figurative portraits, modeled in recycled milk bottles and other plastic objects. These dramatic portraits are both powerful expressions of humanity while also making a prescient environmental statement, referencing the impact of man-made plastic throwaways on natures survival.
While the work by each artist is significantly different and using materials of different generational practices the crafting by each of them is exceptional.
