​‘Zone C’

Barry Read
Opens 6pm Friday 14 September until 26 September 2018
 
Barry Read’s work is “about the way something is transformed by light, whether that’s a film or an art work”. Barry explains “designing for film isn’t architecture, it’s about designing for the camera. You can create something quite abstract on a film that then translates as realism on screen. It’s translation of ideas”. 
 
Barry’s first solo exhibition in Mangawhai Artists Gallery concentrates on two elements; drawing and painting. Barry describes his process for the work in his exhibition. “I’ve restricted the drawings to pencil on paper. The process is not as important as getting the idea across. With the paintings I carried on an experiment begun ten years ago - much more textural - it’s that thing about light. I start by drawing with texture and it’s an exciting process because things that aren’t obvious in the under painting can appear through the layers of translucent paint. So when I start that process I have an idea of where I’m going, but not the specifics.”
 
Interested in landscape and the interaction of the straight-line mechanical with nature, Barry also explores the ideas of colonialism and tribalism “because we live in disturbing times and the politics of fear. Where anybody different is ‘stranger’ and ‘danger’”.
 
Barry has exhibited throughout NZ and when living in London he exhibited in the UK, Barcelona and St Petersburg.  He says; “the major influence for me, and my greatest stroke of luck, was going to the BBC, there I met some great draughtsmen and draughtswomen, fantastic, beautiful, stunning, unbelievable work. So I learned to draw in a way I’d never drawn before. I got less precious I guess!”
 
‘Zone C’ by Barry Read opens in Mangawhai Artists Gallery at 6pm Friday 14 September and Barry looks forward to the exhibition because “the space and lighting is so good. To have the works shown together should be interesting.”

For more information mangawhaiartists.co.nzand artist profile:
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/barry-read